Members of the Professional Footballers' Association have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor revealed that of the 2,315 ballot papers returned by members, 2,290 voted in favour of strike action, a 99 per cent endorsement for the union in its dispute over TV money.
The PFA, which represents all professional footballers in England, is angered by the refusal of football authorities to guarantee them five per cent of the income received from television deals.
They argue this is the percentage they have received in broadcasting fees since the 1950s and that they need the money to help retired players as well as those who fail to make the grade.
If the PFA press ahead with industrial action they will have to do so within a month of the ballot, having given the clubs a week's notice.
The Premier League will not take any immediate action following the announcement of the ballot results. But, if they fail to agree an acceptable deal next week and the PFA press ahead with a strike, the Premier League will take out an injunction to prevent the action going ahead.
The matter will then go to the High Court where a judge will decide whether such a strike is legitimate.
It is not clear whether a strike would affect specific televised matches or all league games, as all are filmed for television.
Taylor insisted suggestions that matches on the weekend of December 8th would be the first affected were "just speculation".
"Its just about a fair and equitable share of television income," Taylor said.