FC Barcelona faces yet another administrative hurdle after LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) jointly decided to reject the registration of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor for the second half of the 2024/25 season. Below, we analyze the reasons behind this situation.

The Regulation Blocking Their Registrations

According to the official statement, the rejection stems from Articles 130.2 and 141.5 of the RFEF General Regulations, which state that a player whose license has been canceled cannot be re-registered by the same club in the same season.

On January 1, 2025, both Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor were effectively removed from LaLiga's registration list after Barcelona failed to meet the requirements of financial fair play (FFP). The club subsequently tried to apply for new licenses for the players under the premise of "force majeure", but LaLiga and the RFEF denied this request, asserting that the necessary conditions for this exception were not met.

The root of the issue lies in Barcelona’s inability to demonstrate, before December 31, 2024, the receipt of a portion of the €100 million expected from leasing the Spotify Camp Nou VIP boxes. These funds—crucial for meeting LaLiga’s financial control requirements—arrived late due to delays in international transfers from Middle Eastern investors.

Although this income eventually allowed Barcelona to regain the 1:1 rule under FFP (enabling them to make new signings), it was insufficient to reverse the situation for Olmo and Pau Víctor. The regulations prohibit re-registering players for the same club during the same season.

Barcelona’s Limited Options

With the rejection, Barcelona faces few alternatives:

1. Appealing to the Administrative Tribunal for Sport (TAD):
   The club could file an appeal with the TAD, but the process might extend beyond the close of the winter transfer window.
2. Seeking Relief in Civil Courts:
   Barcelona could pursue a temporary injunction through the civil courts, allowing the players to compete while the legal dispute is resolved.
3. Player Departures:
   If no resolution is achieved, Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor might leave the club to join other teams before the winter window closes.

Dani Olmo, signed for €48 million in August 2024, and Pau Víctor, a promising talent from the academy, are key components of Barcelona’s sporting project. Their absence for the second half of the season could significantly hinder the team’s ambitions in LaLiga and the Champions League.