After the Spanish professional league, the national football association RFEF also refused FC Barcelona permission to play for Dani Olmo. After reviewing the regulations by the league and association supervisory committee, it was decided not to grant the club’s request for advance approval and final player licenses for Olmo and teammate Pau Víctor, the RFEF said.
The club now has to worry about Olmo’s whereabouts and, according to media reports, is considering legal action to challenge the decision. Barcelona will now probably appeal to the Administrative Court for Sport or the ordinary courts, wrote the Catalan trade newspaper Sports World.
According to the RFEF’s communication, the Commission’s decision is based on “Articles 130.2 and 141.5 of the Association’s regulations, which do not allow a player whose license has been canceled to be re-issued a license for the same team of the same club within the same season”. Barça coach Hansi Flick will therefore have to do without the 26-year-old European champion Olmo and Víctor, 23, until further notice. A few days ago, the professional league refused to register the two due to the financial problems of the massively indebted Catalans. According to media reports, there was recently no evidence of the receipt of 100 million euros for the sale of VIP boxes in the renovated Camp Nou stadium to one investment funds from the Arab region. The RFEF’s communication shows that this income has now been proven. “Following the submission of the relevant documents (on January 3, 2025) by the club, the LaLiga Budget Validation Panel has decided to increase the cost limit for the FC Barcelona sports squad from that date,” it said. However, the refusal of the licenses cannot be reversed within the current season due to the applicable rules. Barcelona only signed Olmo from RB Leipzig in the summer for an estimated 55 million euros. The attacking midfielder received a contract until June 2030. It was said in the Spanish media that, strictly speaking, the club would have to pay Olmo’s salary until this contract expires. Ultimately, the case could cost the club over 260 million euros.