In a dramatic turn of events, Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD) has ruled in favor of FC Barcelona, declaring that Dani Olmo and Pau Victor are eligible to play for the club for the remainder of the season. The decision comes after months of legal and financial wrangling involving La Liga, Barcelona, and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
Last summer, Barcelona secured temporary licences from La Liga to register both players. However, these registrations were revoked in January when the league claimed that the club had failed to meet Financial Fair Play (FFP) requirements by the 31 December deadline.
Barcelona appealed to the CSD, which provisionally reinstated Olmo and Victor. On Wednesday, the CSD delivered a final ruling, stating that the revocation of the registrations is null and void, citing the RFEF’s own confirmation that no official cancellation of the players’ licences had been made.
In its statement, the CSD emphasized that the RFEF’s decision not to grant licences was procedurally invalid, giving Barcelona the green light to continue fielding the two players.
La Liga, however, has contested the decision and plans to appeal the CSD’s ruling. The league maintains that Barcelona lacks the financial capacity to register the forwards, citing irregularities in the club’s end-of-year accounting for the 2024-25 season.
On 3 January, Barcelona announced a deal to raise €100 million through the sale of VIP boxes at the Nou Camp, which is currently undergoing reconstruction. This move was intended to help the club comply with financial regulations and secure permanent licences for both players.
Despite the club’s claims, La Liga argued that the deal was not reflected in the financial documents submitted and had only been approved by a different, unnamed auditor—not the league’s official channels.
Dani Olmo, a former La Masia product, returned to Barcelona last summer from RB Leipzig for £52 million. Since then, the Spain international has made 28 appearances, 13 of which came after the CSD’s provisional reinstatement.
Pau Victor, another La Masia graduate, has featured 22 times this season, including five matches since the CSD first granted temporary eligibility.
Both players have made significant contributions to the squad and are now set to remain integral members of Xavi’s team for the remainder of the campaign.
As legal tensions continue between Barcelona and La Liga, the CSD’s ruling offers the Catalan giants a crucial lifeline in a season already complicated by injuries, financial pressures, and stadium renovations.
