Barcelona lose request to keep playing Dani Olmo and Pau Victor

From left: Barcelona's Wojciech Szczesny, Dani Olmo, Hector Fort and Pau Victor heading for training on Jan 3, 2025. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

UPDATED Jan 04, 2025, 10:47 PM

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Barcelona's Dani Olmo and Pau Victor will be unable to play for the La Liga side in the second half of the season, the Spanish football authorities said on Saturday, rejecting the club's latest attempt to extend their registration.

Midfielder Olmo, 26, who helped Spain to European Championship glory last year, has been an integral part of Barcelona's team this season, while forward Victor, 23, has been largely restricted to substitute appearances.

Barca are third in La Liga, five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

They had signed Olmo in August for around €55 million ($56.7 million) and Victor in July, but only registered them for the first half of the season due to La Liga wage cap considerations.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) and La Liga said in a joint statement they had rejected a request to register them both for the second half, saying a cancelled licence could not be revived for a player by the same club in the same season.

"The monitoring committee agrees not to grant the prior approval or the definitive licence requested by FC Barcelona for the players Daniel Olmo Carvajal and Pau Victor Delgado," the RFEF said.

Two courts had previously rejected the club's requests.

La Liga had previously welcomed the legal rulings, saying additional spending is allowed so long-term injuries do not weaken a team but the rule should not be exploited to allow the registration of players whose salaries exceed the limit.

The Spanish media said Barcelona plan to file a complaint to the government in a last-ditch attempt to allow the pair to play. There was no immediate comment from Barcelona. REUTERS

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