La Liga has raised concerns about Barcelona’s financial practices. They reported that an auditor, hired briefly by the club, played a key role in allowing the signings of Dani Olmo and Pau Victor for the current season.
This auditor, whose name has not been disclosed, was brought on board by Barcelona on December 31. They certified that the club’s sale of VIP seating to Middle Eastern investors, which brought in €100 million, was accurately recorded in the financial statements for the 2024-25 season. This sale was critical in enabling Barcelona to comply with financial regulations and secure government permission to field both players for at least three months.
Currently, the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), Spain’s top sports governing body, is reviewing a decision by La Liga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to deregister Olmo and Victor. This deregistration stemmed from late submissions of financial documents by Barcelona. A ruling from the CSD is expected by April 7.
Interestingly, La Liga claims that over the past three months, Barcelona has gone through three auditors. The first, Grant Thornton, did not report the VIP seat sale in an interim financial statement. The second, Crowe, took over after the unnamed auditor and provided a limited review to La Liga but still did not include the crucial sale.
La Liga has informed Barcelona that their financial capacity to register new players has been decreased based on the interim statement from Grant Thornton. They also plan to lodge a formal complaint with Spain’s Institute of Accounting and Auditing against the brief auditor.
Barcelona’s president, Joan Laporta, maintains that Olmo and Pau Victor’s registrations were correctly handled. He emphasized that the club adhered to all requirements set by the federation and La Liga.
Since their inclusion in January, both players have contributed to Barcelona’s impressive form, as the club is currently unbeaten in 19 matches and competing for three trophies. Barcelona leads La Liga, is in the Champions League quarter-finals, and will face Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals soon.
As for player appearances, Olmo has played 12 times, while Victor has participated three times, showcasing their impact on the field during this period.
For more insights on La Liga’s financial regulations and their implications for teams, you can read this report from La Liga.
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Source linkBarcelona, Spain, Champions League, La Liga
