Barcelona Faces New La Liga Allegations Over Fair Play And Dani Olmo’s Registration

‎La Liga has confirmed a further reduction in Barcelona’s salary cap, stating that the €100 million sale of VIP seats in the new Camp Nou was not executed in time.

‎This decision follows a protracted legal dispute lasting six months.

‎During this period, Barcelona has been working to extend the registrations of players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

‎While there were discussions about whether players’ licenses could be extended, Barcelona circumvented La Liga to obtain an emergency agreement with the government’s High Sports Committee (CSD).

‎The Blaugrana also needed to prove their financial capability to finalize the new registrations. This maneuver allowed them to address their pressing roster issues despite the ongoing challenges.

‎Barcelona’s salary cap was raised at the turn of the year after the club produced evidence stating their €100m sale of VIP seats had been finalized on January 3, 2025.

‎They were then granted the financial freedom needed to register both Olmo and Victor for the second half of the season.

‎More recently, Barcelona published their financial accounts for the year and made no mention of this €100m, with La Liga now alleging the deal was not actually completed on time.

‎In a statement, La Liga confirmed the receipt of official documentation from an auditor which confirmed the sale was legitimate on January 3.

‎Following the increase in Barcelona’s salary cap, La Liga officials became wary of the deal and requested an investigation.

‎This inquiry was directed at the same government agency that authorized the emergency registrations for Olmo and Victor.

‎”The financial statements show Barcelona did not have on Dec. 31, 2024, nor on Jan. 3, 2025, nor since that date the capacity to register Olmo and Víctor,” the league said in a statement on Wednesday.

‎When Barcelona’s financial accounts were submitted, a new auditor made no mention of the €100m sale, which La Liga has now ruled means they are in breach of Fair Play regulations once again as they did not have the required funds to raise their wage expenses in January. An investigation into the initial auditor has been requested.

‎A ruling on the legitimacy of Olmo’s emergency registration is due to arrive by April 6, and this new information would appear to cast significant doubt over the playmaker’s new license.

‎The CSD is responsible for determining whether Barcelona provided sufficient evidence in time to extend Olmo and Victor’s registrations before they expired on December 31.

‎Meanwhile, La Liga is working to prove that the league leaders did not have the necessary funds to complete the extensions regardless.

‎The CSD is due to make a final decision before April 7 on whether Olmo and Víctor’s registrations should be revoked for the rest of the season.