Dani Olmo: Barcelona forward granted temporary permission to play

Dani Olmo and Pau Victor will be allowed to play for Barcelona after the club was granted provisional permission to register the pair by the Spanish national sports council (CSD).

The players, both summer signings, were only registered for the first half of the season as Barcelona could not meet La Liga’s wage cap restrictions.

On Saturday, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and La Liga rejected Barcelona’s request to register them.

However, the CSD stepped in on Wednesday following an appeal by the club to grant a precautionary measure and allow the pair to play in the short term.

Forwards Olmo and Victor will be available until the CSD makes a definitive ruling on the club’s case against La Liga and RFEF.

“This measure, which is provisional until the appeal filed by the club and the aforementioned players is finally resolved, suspends [La Liga and RFEF’s decision], and the cancellation of the sports licenses of the aforementioned players,” said the CSD in a statement.

“It also maintains the validity of said licences until this appeal is finally resolved.”

The decision came too late for Olmo and Victor to be eligible for selection in Wednesday’s Spanish Supercopa semi-final with Athletic club in Saudi Arabia but, if Barca win, they can play in Sunday’s final against either Real Madrid or Mallorca.

Olmo – a £51m summer arrival from RB Leipzig – was registered as a special exemption for the first half of the season because Barcelona’s difficult financial situation meant they could not meet La Liga’s stringent wage cap restrictions.

Requests made by the club to register the duo had previously been rejected by two courts.

Barcelona have since reportedly, external sold VIP boxes for their new stadium, which is still under construction, for a reported 100m euros (£83.42m) to be able to operate within La Liga’s financial fair play scheme.

However, the paperwork was sent three days after La Liga’s deadline.

La Liga said Barcelona have now met the financial requirements following the expiry of Olmo and Victor’s licences, while regulations prevent players “obtaining another licence at the same club to which they were already linked” in the same season.

According to Spanish reports, Barcelona argued the rule was obsolete and they now have the funds while the transfer window is open and should therefore be able to register the duo.