La Liga claims Barca still don't have financial means to register Olmo

Barcelona did not have the financial capacity to register players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor and still lack it, La Liga said Wednesday ahead of a decision by Spain's sports council (CSD) over the duo's eligibility to play.

Barcelona announced a deal had been reached in January to sell VIP boxes at the club's Camp Nou stadium, currently being rebuilt, worth a reported €100 million, which gave them the financial fair play room for new licences for the players.

La Liga said Barcelona used an unnamed auditor between Dec. 31 and Jan. 3 which recorded the deal on the club's books, but their current auditor no longer includes it in the club's interim financial statements for the first part of the 2024-25 season.

"No amount from the (VIP box deal) is ultimately recorded in the profit and loss accounts, contrary to what had been certified by the club and the auditor at the time of said transaction," said La Liga in a statement.

La Liga said they were reporting the auditor Barcelona used between Dec. 31 and Jan. 3 to the Accounting and Auditing Institute.

"Barcelona ... did not have on December 31, 2024, or on January 3, 2025, nor has it had since that date, nor does it currently have, (the financial fair play capacity) for the registration of the players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor," continued La Liga's statement.

Barcelona declined to comment when asked about the matter by AFP.

On Jan. 8, the CSD granted Barcelona precautionary permission to use Olmo and Victor after La Liga said Barca failed to register them before a deadline at the end of December when the temporary licences they were given after signing last summer expired.

The CSD decided Olmo and Victor could be selected by Barca until they make a definitive ruling in the club's case against La Liga and the Spanish football federation (RFEF), who did not let the club renew their registrations. The ruling is set to come on or before April 7.

The players were initially registered on a short-term basis, as Barcelona took advantage of a financial loophole following an injury to defender Andreas Christensen.

Olmo, currently injured, has played 13 times since then, scoring two goals and providing four assists, while Victor has five substitute appearances.