Barcelona have been given temporary permission to register Dani Olmo after lodging an appeal, but the star was not even named on the bench for their Spanish Super Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.
Barcelona have been granted a precautionary measure by the Higher Sports Council (CSD) which has allowed them to temporarily register both Olmo, a target for several Premier League sides, and Pau Victor.
Both players will be permitted to play in LaLiga again after facing several weeks of uncertainty.
Olmo and Victor have been included in Barcelona’s Super Cup squad despite being ineligible to play, but the pair were not named in the starting line-up or among the substitutes for their semi-final with Athletic Club.
Last week, Barcelona revealed their plans to file a complaint after both LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rejected their latest attempt to re-register the duo, and they subsequently took the matter to court.
The CSD said that not adopting the precautionary measure would ’cause serious economic and sporting harm to the club and, above all, to the players’, as well as ‘harming the interests of the Spanish national team’ and LaLiga.
Barcelona can register Dani Olmo for the time being following a Higher Sports Council decision
Olmo, a target for several Premier League clubs, will be able to play again imminently
Olmo and Pau Victor were left out of Barcelona’s semi-final squad despite the decision
The council also noted Barcelona’s involvement in the Spanish Super Cup, which they said carries ‘worldwide visibility and impact’.
‘The CSD has granted this Wednesday the urgent precautionary measure requested by FC Barcelona and by the players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor,’ the CSD said.
‘This measure, which is provisional until the appeal filed by the club and the aforementioned players is definitively resolved, suspends the Agreement of the Monitoring Committee of the RFEF-LaLiga Coordination Agreement, dated January 4, 2025, and the cancellation of the sports licenses of the aforementioned players.
‘Likewise, it maintains the validity of said licenses until the present appeal is definitively resolved. In order to grant this urgent precautionary measure, the CSD has analyzed the 52-page appeal and the more than 60 documents that accompany it.
I’n their arguments, FC Barcelona, Dani Olmo and Pau Victor point out that the Monitoring Committee is exclusively assigned the functions of interpreting the application of the clauses of the RFEF-LaLiga Coordination Agreement, monitoring compliance with the agreement and promoting any other activities that tend to make the Agreement more effective.
‘They therefore question whether the Monitoring Committee has the authority to grant or not grant the prior visa or the definitive license of professional football players, seeing indications of full nullity in the Agreement of the Monitoring Committee of the RFEF-LaLiga Coordination Agreement.
‘Without prejudice to the allegations requested for the resolution of the substance of the matter, the CSD has observed the possible concurrence of a cause for full nullity and the existence of immediate and difficult-to-repair damages, which would affect the rights recognised in the current Sports Law to the footballers Dani Olmo and Pau Victor and their legal security.
‘In this regard, the CSD has assessed that, according to article 27 of the Sports Law, professional athletes have the right “to a sporting career in accordance with their potential” and with all the guarantees and certainty.’
The decision eases the pressure on Joan Laporta, the president of the Catalan giants
Olmo’s re-registration was denied due to LaLiga’s ongoing financial constraints on Barcelona
But he was named in the club’s travelling party for their Super Cup campaign in Saudi Arabia
Barcelona face Athletic Club in the last four and can bring the pair into the team for a final
The latest ruling, which will ease the pressure on president Joan Laporta after another tumultuous period.
El Larguero, via Cadena Ser, have reported that Barcelona have not ruled out the possibility of them playing in the final should they progress to that stage.
The CSD’s verdict also does not mean that Olmo and Victor will be eligible for the rest of the season. Instead, the ruling is a recognition that Barcelona’s appeal, which was lodged in the form of a 52-page document, has a sound legal basis.
Now, the body has a period of up to three months to study the case before making a final opinion. Olmo and Victor will be able to play as normal in the meantime.
On Tuesday, Barcelona forward Raphinha warned that the saga surrounding Olmo’s re-registration issues could put future transfer targets off from joining.
‘I can’t say the opposite because I would lie otherwise,’ Raphinha added.
Olmo joined Hansi Flick’s side from RB Leipzig last summer in a deal worth £50million but he could only be registered on a temporary arrangement until the end of 2024, owing to LaLiga’s strict financial constraints on Barcelona.
The Catalan giants had been trying to re-register the playmaker to make him available for selection beyond December 31 but encountered several roadblocks.
Olmo was pictured with his girlfriend Laura Abla Schmitt celebrating the start of the New Year
Barcelona have worked tirelessly to secure Olmo’s registration and have a brief respite
Indeed, LaLiga issued a statement on New Year’s Eve confirming they had turned down the club’s proposal, raising the possibility Olmo could leave on a free transfer.
Mail Sport reported how Olmo has attracted interest from several Premier League sides, with Manchester United and Manchester City linked with a move.
His agent, Andy Bara, also spent time in Manchester over the festive period.
Nevertheless, Bara has claimed that the 26-year-old’s intention is to ‘stay at Barcelona’ with Olmo ‘not considering any other option’.