5 Key Reasons La Liga is Challenging Dani Olmo’s Eligibility to Play for Barcelona

Overview of the Dispute

On a recent Monday, La Liga escalated a legal challenge against the Spanish sports council’s (CSD) decision that allowed Barcelona’s Dani Olmo and Pau Victor to continue playing until the season’s end. La Liga is urgently seeking a judicial ruling, citing concerns over sporting fairness and alleged violations related to the league’s economic control regulations.

La Liga’s Immediate Response

Upon the CSD’s ruling in favor of Barcelona, La Liga quickly responded, stating the decision was “not in accordance with the law.” The organization emphasized that the player registrations, enabled at the season’s start due to an injury scenario, were not legally sustained past the year-end.

The Financial Angle

Barcelona thought they had navigated through their financial constraints by brokering a deal in January to sell VIP boxes at the yet-to-be-completed Camp Nou to Middle Eastern investors, projected to yield 100 million euros over 20 years. However, La Liga later countered that these funds were never reflected in the club’s financial statements as initially claimed.

CSD’s Interim Measures

In light of these controversies, the CSD had initially granted Olmo and Victor a temporary clearance to play from January, pending a conclusive decision on the matter, reflecting the ongoing tug-of-war over Barcelona’s financial compliance.

Broader Impact on Barcelona

This legal scuffle comes at a time when Barcelona is already grappling with severe financial challenges. In 2022, the club executed multiple asset sales, including future television rights, to fund high-profile acquisitions like Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha. The upcoming summer transfer window looms as a crucial test, with La Liga’s stringent financial oversight potentially hindering any major new signings without significant prior asset liquidation.

Note: The details in this article are sourced independently, outside of the direct influence of Barcelona or La Liga’s official channels.