Barcelona have suffered a blow as LaLiga have determined that the club simply does not have the financial wherewithal to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor. Both players had been registered on a temporary basis with the Catalan giants prior to the start of the season, but saw their licences revoked by the league in January when Barcelona failed to comply with financial regulations.
After two appeals to the courts were rejected, Barcelona appealed to Spain’s sports council (CSD), which temporarily reinstated the players. But the three-month provisional phase ends Monday, with a final decision likely coming shortly.
LaLiga also dismissed a recent €100 million sale of VIP boxes by Barcelona as inadequate, claiming that it still leaves the club unable to register the pair.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta hit back by attacking the timing of LaLiga’s statement, which was released several hours before Barça’s Copa del Rey semi-final against Atlético Madrid.
“They cannot defeat us on the field, so they do it outside of it,” Laporta said. “Why has this changed given LaLiga allowed these signings to begin with?”
Signed from RB Leipzig for €60m, Olmo has made 28 appearances this season, as Victor has 22.【0†source】 The club’s status is now uncertain pending a final ruling from Spanish authorities.
