RFEF refuse to issue registration license to Barcelona for Pau Vitor and Dani Olmo, have decided to side with LaLiga: Reports

In a major blow for Barcelona, the governing body of Spanish football, RFEF, has refused to grant them registration licenses for Pau Victor and Dani Olmo. The club now risks losing both players for the second half of their campaign.

Earlier, LaLiga had put out a firm statement which said that Barcelona hadn't done enough to register Olmo and Victor, as they took both the players of their official websites too.

Now, the RFEF has opted to stick with the league's decision, refusing the Catalans the license to register the aforementioned players, as per Diario AS (via BarcaTimes on X).

Sources at the Royal Spanish Football Federation have told the Spanish news outlet the following:

“La Liga’s decision will be respected and Barcelona’s request for Dani Olmo and Pau Victor will not be met. After all the effort it has taken to re-establish relations with LaLiga, not all bridges can be blown up due to an issue that, furthermore, is regulated. It is Barça that should have complied with the rules.”

Barcelona were apparently buying time by placing the issue in the hands of the RFEF, but the federation is not willing to get involved. Furthermore, Mundo Deportivo, another Spanish news media, stated that RFEF only have the power to ratify the players' licenses.

This leaves Hansi Flick's side in a deep quandary, as the involvement of Olmo and Victor for the second half of their 2024-25 season is now highly unlikely.

Barcelona return to action this Saturday with a game away to Barbastro in the Round of 32 of the Copa Del Rey, before flying to Saudi Arabia for the Supercopa de Espana, three days later.

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Barcelona losing ground in LaLiga title race

The RFEF's decision comes at a time when Barcelona are starting to lose ground in the LaLiga title race. Having begun their campaign with a sensational seven wins on the bounce, and 11 in their opening 12, they've won just once in their next seven league games, while losing four.

Their poor run of form has allowed Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to steal a march over them, as the sides are now as they are two and three points ahead of them, respectively. Both sides have a game in hand over Barac too.

Adding Olmo's absence from the upcoming set of games could be a huge blow as the Spaniard has been a key member of their squad with six goals in 15 games. Pau Victor has chipped in with two goals and an assist in 17 appearances this season.