Barcelona players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor can now represent the club temporarily, following a decision by the Spanish sports council (CSD) on Wednesday. The ruling allows the financially troubled club to use the players until a final decision is made in Barcelona’s ongoing case against La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The CSD announced that the temporary measure suspends the cancellation of Olmo and Victor’s sports licenses, which were not renewed by La Liga and the RFEF at the end of last year. Both players joined Barcelona during the summer transfer window but faced registration issues due to the club’s financial struggles.
“This measure, which is provisional until the appeal filed by the club and the aforementioned players is finally resolved, suspends La Liga and the RFEF’s decision. It also maintains the validity of said licenses until this appeal is finally resolved,” said the CSD in a statement.
Olmo and Victor’s clearance is a significant relief for Barcelona, as they had been unable to feature in competitive matches recently. The duo missed the club’s Copa del Rey round of 32 victory against Barbastro on Saturday.
Financial Challenges and Legal Disputes
Barcelona’s financial struggles have been at the heart of the issue. The club initially registered Olmo and Victor on short-term licenses, taking advantage of a financial loophole after defender Andreas Christensen suffered an injury. However, the licenses expired, and attempts to renew them failed due to La Liga’s financial fair play regulations.
Last week, Barcelona lost two court cases seeking new licenses for the players. To address the financial requirements, the club sold VIP boxes at their under-construction Spotify Camp Nou stadium, raising €100 million ($104 million). Despite meeting La Liga’s financial conditions, the paperwork was finalized three days after the league’s deadline, preventing the duo from being registered under current regulations.
La Liga explained that players cannot obtain another license at the same club during the same season after their initial registration expires. However, Barcelona is challenging this rule, arguing it is outdated.
“We now have the funds, and the transfer window is open. It is only logical that we should be allowed to register the players,” Spanish media quoted club representatives as saying.
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Limited Availability for Key Matches
Although cleared to play, Olmo and Victor will miss Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup semi-final clash against Athletic Bilbao in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. However, they could feature in a potential final on Sunday if Barcelona qualifies and in subsequent matches while awaiting the CSD’s final ruling.
The decision provides Barcelona with a glimmer of hope in what has been a turbulent season. For Olmo and Victor, it’s an opportunity to prove their worth to the Catalan giants while the legal battle continues.
The resolution of this case will not only determine the players’ immediate futures but also test the flexibility of La Liga’s financial regulations in accommodating clubs facing financial challenges.