La Liga president Javier Tebas isn't backing down on his stance about Barcelona's forward Dani Olmo. Tebas insists Olmo's registration for the remainder of the season contradicts financial regulations imposed by La Liga. The controversy arose when Barcelona missed a crucial deadline for submitting necessary documents related to Financial Fair Play (FFP), leading to Olmo and Pau Víctor being unregistered from competing as of January 1.
Despite the initial decision by La Liga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), the decision to unregister the players was quickly countered by Spain's Sports Ministry (CSD). Following a prompt appeal by Barcelona, the CSD temporarily reinstated Olmo and Víctor. The club argued the league's interpretation of registration guidelines was faulty, a stance that has been met with marked skepticism and criticism from other La Liga clubs, including Atlético Madrid and Valencia.
Tebas has been outspoken about the dispute and has reiterated La Liga's position that Barca's actions run counter to the rules. He conceded the issue is causing unrest among competing teams who view the temporary reinstatement as unfair. While Olmo has actively contributed to victories over Real Madrid and Real Betis since his reinstatement, injuries have recently sidelined him, adding another dimension to the ongoing saga.
This financial compliance showdown is now a focal point in a larger conversation regarding adherence to FFP within the league. Although Barcelona showed some level of compliance soon after the deadline, La Liga has maintained its position that players who were unregistered in the middle of the season cannot simply be re-registered. This key aspect underpins their approach in ongoing appeals, with the final say expected from the CSD in the next few months.
Barcelona's off-pitch troubles haven’t significantly impacted their championship chase. In a remarkable turnaround, they've moved up to a three-point lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid. This shift comes after Barcelona capitalized on a sudden slump in Real Madrid's form, which was marked by a shocking loss to Espanyol on February 1. Real's unexpected decline, managing just one win in five games, has provided an opportunity which Barcelona hasn’t wasted, leaving both them and Atlético Madrid in stronger positions.