Barcelona Facing New La Liga Accusations Over Financial Fair Play & Dani Olmo Registration
Apr 02, 2025 by
Transferhunt News
• 3 minute read
Barcelona's salary cap is reduced after La Liga investigates VIP seat sale, casting doubt on Dani Olmo's registration and the club's financial fairness.
La Liga has confirmed that it has once again reduced Barcelona's salary cap following new investigations into the €100 million sale of VIP seats at the revamped Camp Nou. The dispute centers around Barcelona’s ability to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the ongoing season, with accusations of financial irregularities at the heart of the issue.
VIP Seat Sale & Salary Cap Controversy
The latest controversy comes after La Liga ruled that the €100 million sale of VIP seats did not meet the required timeline for registration. The deal, which Barcelona claimed to have finalized on January 3, 2025, was crucial in raising the club’s salary cap and enabling them to register Olmo and Victor. However, doubts have emerged regarding whether the sale was truly concluded on time.
Ongoing Legal Dispute
For the past six months, Barcelona has been embroiled in a complicated legal dispute concerning the registration of Olmo and Victor. Initially, there were questions about whether their player licenses could even be extended. In response, Barcelona bypassed La Liga and reached an emergency agreement with Spain’s High Sports Committee (CSD) to register both players. However, the club also had to prove it had sufficient financial backing to facilitate these registrations.
Discrepancies in Barcelona's Financial Reporting
Earlier this year, Barcelona's salary cap was increased after the club presented evidence showing the VIP seat sale was finalized by January 3, 2025. This allowed the club to register Olmo and Victor for the second half of the season. However, Barcelona’s recent financial accounts failed to mention the €100 million sale, raising suspicions. La Liga now alleges that the deal was not finalized in time, violating financial fair play regulations.
La Liga's Response & Investigation
In response to these discrepancies, La Liga has launched an investigation. The league’s officials have received an official audit confirming the deal was legitimate on January 3, but concerns arose once Barcelona’s financial reports failed to mention this transaction. La Liga is now seeking to determine whether Barcelona breached Fair Play regulations by not having the necessary funds to raise their wage budget in January.
Implications for Olmo’s Registration
The investigation could have significant implications for Olmo’s emergency registration. A ruling on the legitimacy of his registration is expected by April 6. Given the new revelations, there is growing uncertainty about the validity of his new contract.
The CSD is responsible for determining whether Barcelona provided the necessary documentation to extend Olmo and Victor’s registrations before they expired on December 31. La Liga is now working to demonstrate that Barcelona did not have the funds required to make the registration valid, which could further complicate matters for the club.
This new development has cast a shadow over Barcelona’s financial dealings and raises further questions about their compliance with La Liga’s financial fair play rules.
