Athletic Club criticized Barcelona after the Spain’s top sports court granted Dani Olmo and Pau Victor temporary playing registrations.
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Athletic Club speaks on Olmo, Victor registrations
LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) denied both players’ registrations after the Catalan club missed the December 31 deadline to prove compliance with the league’s financial fair play rules.
Barca successfully appealed to Spain’s Sports Council (CSD), allowing Olmo and Victor to suit up for their team.
Both Olmo and Victor could play for Barca’s Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid.
Before Athletic Club’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the semis, club president Jon Uriarte called the decision “grotesque.”
“It is a provisional measure taken by a political body,” Uriarte said.
“Now it is LaLiga and the [Spanish Football] Federation that will have to defend the decision they took.”
“Maybe if I draw a conclusion, it is that we are eight days into the new year and we are experiencing something that is incredible.”
“We, clubs, are asked to make an effort to grow, to make our competitions bigger on the one hand, and on the other hand to make efforts to come here [to Saudi Arabia], to a country far from our fans, to play these [Supercopa] games but then we experience situations of this type that are grotesque.
“A situation like that cannot happen because it is very bad for football.”
Athletic forward Iñaki Williams said he was also not a fan of the decision.
“It seems that the rules are not the same for everyone, but we are not the ones who have to decide,” Williams told reporters.
“I am happy for Dani Olmo and Pau Victor because I think it is a very difficult situation for them and all they want is to play football. As a football professional, I’m happy for both of them.”
LaLiga speaks on the issue
LaLiga president Javier Tebas weighed in on the matter, expressing surprise at the CSD’s decision.
“CSD president [Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes] seems to be listening to a single voice, which does not represent Spanish professional football,” Tebas said on social media.
“And that voice, curiously, remains complicitly silent in this case. Where is Real Madrid TV now?”
Real Madrid TV has been critical of some of LaLiga’s actions, particularly comments made by Tebas.
“Every club has their own issues”
Meanwhile, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco defended the club in response to Uriarte’s criticisms.
“Every club has their own issues and their own problems and should focus on themselves,” Deco said.
“We’re doing things well at Barça, trying to do things in the best way possible.”
Olmo signed from RB Leipzig for €60 million in the summer.
Meanwhile, Victor joined in August on a permanent transfer from Girona.
