Barcelona’s Battle with LaLiga: Olmo and Víctor Cleared to Play
In a dramatic turn of events, Spain’s sports ministry, the CSD, has ruled that Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor can continue to play for Barcelona until the end of the season. This decision comes after a prolonged dispute involving LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), who had initially revoked the players’ registrations. The CSD’s ruling, announced on Thursday, has provided a temporary reprieve for the Catalan giants, allowing them to keep two of their key players on the roster.
The saga began in January when the CSD granted Olmo and Víctor temporary registrations while they assessed Barcelona’s appeal against LaLiga and the RFEF’s decision. The controversy centered around Barcelona’s compliance with financial regulations, a topic that has been a thorn in the club’s side for some time now.
On the same day as the CSD’s ruling, LaLiga issued a statement expressing their intention to appeal the decision. This move underscores the ongoing tension between the league and one of its most storied clubs. Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, has been vocal in defending the club’s actions, stating, “The registrations of Pau Víctor and Olmo were carried out correctly. I already told you that we had followed all the federation and LaLiga requirements. That remains in effect.”
Financial Compliance and Deadlines
LaLiga’s argument against Barcelona is twofold. Firstly, they claim that the club missed a crucial December 31 deadline to prove compliance with financial regulations. Secondly, they assert that Barcelona has “never had” the capacity to register Olmo and Víctor within the league-imposed spending limit. Despite these claims, the CSD has sided with Barcelona, emphasizing the players’ right to work and questioning the jurisdiction of the committee that initially revoked the registrations.
The CSD’s ruling highlights that their decision was made after considering all parties’ arguments, without factoring in LaLiga’s financial regulations. As a result, Olmo and Víctor’s registrations have been officially extended until June 30.
The Timeline of Events
- December 31: Barcelona misses the deadline to prove financial compliance.
- January 3: LaLiga confirms Barcelona’s sale of VIP seats for €100 million brought them back within regulations.
- January: CSD grants temporary registrations to Olmo and Víctor.
- April 3: CSD rules in favor of Barcelona, allowing the players to continue playing.
The issue has been ongoing since the turn of the year, with Barcelona initially missing the December 31 deadline to prove compliance with LaLiga’s financial regulations. This was necessary to register Olmo and Víctor for the second half of the campaign. The players had received temporary registrations for the first half of the season, thanks to a league rule allowing them to replace a long-term injured player, Andreas Christensen in this case.
LaLiga confirmed on January 3 that Barcelona’s sale of VIP seats at Spotify Camp Nou, which is currently being redeveloped, for €100 million had brought the club back within the regulations. However, a joint LaLiga-RFEF commission stated that the window to prolong Olmo and Víctor’s registrations had passed. Barcelona appealed this decision to the CSD, which agreed to reinstate the registrations while analyzing the case over a three-month period, which concluded this week.
LaLiga’s Concerns and Barcelona’s Response
Since the CSD’s January ruling, LaLiga has raised questions about the €100 million VIP seat deal, indicating they will report the unnamed auditor Barcelona used to verify the sale. The deal was not recorded in the accounts Barcelona submitted to LaLiga last week for the 2024-25 season, which were approved by a different auditor.
Despite the financial wrangling, Dani Olmo, who joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig last summer for around €60 million, has been sidelined with an adductor injury, expected to keep him out until mid-April. Since the CSD’s January ruling, the Spain international has made 13 appearances in all competitions, including seven in LaLiga, scoring two goals and providing four assists. Pau Víctor, meanwhile, has featured just five times in the same period, with all his appearances coming as a substitute.
As the season progresses, the focus will remain on how Barcelona navigates these financial challenges and the ongoing legal battles with LaLiga. The club’s ability to retain key players like Olmo and Víctor could prove crucial in their quest for success on the pitch.
Originally Written by: Sam Marsden,Moises Llorens
