Both Dani Olmo and Pau Victor have been granted provisional playing registrations by the Spanish government despite repeated rejections from the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga in recent weeks.
Spain's sports council, the Supreme Sports Council (CSD), decided on Wednesday that the players should be available for selection until a final ruling in the case is issued.
Both Olmo and Victor were de-registered by La Liga on December 31 after Barcelona missed the deadline to prove their compliance with the league's Financial Fair Play rules.
The club's attempts to re-register the players were rejected by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and La Liga, leading to the Catalan club submitting a 52-page appeal and more than 60 accompanying documents to the CSD, the highest sporting council within Spain. government.
Olmo had a clause in his contract allowing him to leave on a free transfer if he was not registered, but he and Victor remained committed to staying at the club.
🚨🚨 OFFICIAL: The CSD Court granted a precautionary measure to Barcelona regarding Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.
Both players will be available for the Super Cup starting tonight. ✅ pic.twitter.com/MXzhPZsFiP
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 8, 2025
La Liga rules state that a player cannot be registered twice in the same season, however, Wednesday's ruling means the pair can – for now at least – feature again for Barcelona in all competitions this season.
In a statement, the Sustainable Development Committee approved “the urgent precautionary measure requested by FC Barcelona and the players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.”
“This measure, which is temporary until the appeal submitted by the club and the named players is finally resolved, suspends the Control Committee Agreement of the Coordination Agreement between the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga, dated January 4, 2025, and cancels the sporting licences.” Of the players mentioned.
The news came shortly before Barcelona's Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club, but no players have been named in the squad for tonight's match.
“I'm really happy with this (referee),” coach Hansi Flick said before the match. I think the whole team, Danny and Pau of course, are more than happy. And so is everyone in the club.
“It's the right decision.”
Hansi Flick comments on the decision of the Commission for Sustainable Development to grant a precautionary measure to the registrations of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor. pic.twitter.com/aHwzaZCC8A
– FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 8, 2025
Barcelona sporting director Deco echoed Flick's sentiments: “I'm happy for the players. We've been through very difficult days, and the players want to play.
“But we are very happy with the result and that the CSD proved us right, which is the important thing.”
However, John Uriarte, president of Barcelona's semi-final rival, Athletic Club, said of the result that “we are seeing ridiculous things,” adding that “such cases do Spanish football no favors.”
