LaLiga Runs Out of Legal Arguments to Cancel the Licenses of Olmo and Pau Víctor

The mess regarding the registration of Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor for the second half of the 2024/25 season could lead to a tough legal battle between FC Barcelona, LaLiga, and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The regulations of both institutions are clear regarding the future of a player deregistered during a season, but do not address the granting of partial licenses for a season, which was what caused the 'soap opera' with the Barça players.

LaLiga only authorized Barça to use the attacking midfielder and the forward until December 31, 2024, since, being over their salary cap, the culés appealed to the 80% reduction of Andreas Christensen's salary, who was injured throughout the first half of the season. The same happened with Iñigo Martínez, who was finally registered thanks to Ronald Araujo's injury.

Unlike the Basque player, who was granted a license for the rest of the season, Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor were rendered ineligible as of January 1, after Barcelona failed to submit the documentation certifying the income from the sale of the VIP boxes at the new Spotify Camp Nou on time. Why was the license of both canceled mid-season? Regulatory-wise, there are no precedents or legal sections that justify this decision.

LaLiga only considers two scenarios to annul a player's license (a)

LaLiga's internal regulations only outline two possible circumstances for annulling a player's license (a). On one hand, the "request for early cancellation by the Club or Sports Anonymous Society holding it" when there is a voluntary contract termination agreed upon by both parties, or through the loan or definitive transfer of the player to another club. Additionally, it mentions the "unilateral withdrawal of registration", prior to a judicial ruling or administrative resolution.

The second point relates to the "unilateral termination of the contract by the professional player". There, the league will require the application of the indemnity clause stated in the contract, if it is duly noted. Also due to the "expiration of the initially established term or its possible extensions in the agreement or contract that led to the registration". However, there is no point referring to issues with financial 'Fair Play'. Similarly, the RFEF does not warn of the possibility of annulling a license in a context similar to that of Olmo and Pau Víctor.

The RFEF does not specify any cause to annul licenses mid-season

The General Regulations of the RFEF specify 12 possible causes for annulling a player's license, although none refer to exclusion mid-season, nor to the granting of partial licenses. Among the points noted by the Federation are the withdrawal granted by the club, the player's withdrawal or the club's withdrawal from the competition, as well as their total/permanent inability to play and the expiration or termination of the player's contract.

A license can also be annulled due to an "agreement adopted by the competent bodies", due to the merger of clubs of different categories or the early federative cancellation, according to the expedited procedure, along with the issuance of an international transfer certificate and the request for withdrawal by a club to free up a spot in its squad.

Furthermore, the regulations state "any other cause established specifically in this legal order for the different classes of footballers". Nowhere do LaLiga or the RFEF mention granting partial licenses, according to a club's financial situation. Nevertheless, the stance of the league and the federation seems inflexible regarding the reintegration of the two reinforcements signed by Barça last summer.