LaLiga Clubs Express Concern Over Decision on Barcelona's Dani Olmo

Atletico Madrid has criticised the Spanish National Sports Council's decision to allow Barcelona's Dani Olmo to play despite an expired license.

Atletico Madrid has expressed strong criticism over a decision by the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD) that allows Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo to play on a temporary basis despite his expired license. Olmo, 26, and forward Pau Victor were unregistered by LaLiga after Barcelona failed to extend their short-term licenses before the end of 2024.

The CSD granted Barcelona a precautionary measure on Wednesday, enabling Olmo and Victor to play until a final ruling is made in their case against LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation's decision. This move has sparked concern among LaLiga clubs, including Atletico Madrid.

In a statement, Atletico Madrid expressed their “deep concern about the situation in Spanish football” following the CSD's resolution. The club stated, “We believe that this decision puts the current system in jeopardy, questioning the rules of the game.” They further emphasized that “this government intervention creates a very dangerous precedent, as it opens the door to breaking the rules and making the same serious mistakes of the past.”

Barcelona's financial struggles led to their inability to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor under LaLiga's strict financial fair play rules. The club eventually agreed to a deal to sell some VIP seats to Middle Eastern investors in late December, but the paperwork was not completed until after the deadline.

Official statement on the CSD resolution

ℹ️ https://t.co/Ck3R4UZMaB

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 9, 2025

Despite the absence of Olmo and Victor, Barcelona secured a win against Athletic Bilbao, advancing to Sunday's Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. However, the decision by the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD) to allow Olmo and Victor to play has sparked controversy among other LaLiga clubs.

Las Palmas expressed their discontent with the CSD's decision, stating, “We believe that this decision poses a serious threat to the integrity of the competition and sets a worrying precedent that could destabilise the foundations of professional football in our country.” This sentiment was echoed by other clubs, who are concerned about the implications of this decision.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas also criticized the CSD's measure, calling the situation a “tragicomedy” in a post on social media. Tebas expressed his surprise at the decision, highlighting that it contradicted previous decisions made by the council and some courts.