Once again, Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, has spoken about the situation of FC Barcelona. This time, the head of the employers' association was questioned, in an interview with EFE, about the state of the 'fair play' financial situation of the club and the club's ability to make and register signings in this summer market 2025/26.
In principle, the Spanish-Costa Rican president explained the reason for the discomfort expressed by Athletic Club in the recent meeting held by the Basque club and LaLiga, due to the way in which the Azulgrana's interest in Nico Williams and his possible signing is being managed:
"Athletic Club expresses a complaint because FC Barcelona, publicly —if the statements attributed to Deco are true—, has stated that it wants to incorporate a player. According to FIFA rules, it is in a protected period and we do not have the capacity to get involved in that," he warned.
Barcelona and compliance with 'fair play' financial
After that, Javier Tebas did not hesitate to emphasize that Barcelona still has to settle accounts in terms of 'fair play' financial if you want to make any incorporation soon:
"What we will do, as we have always done, is that FC Barcelona will have to comply with the rules to incorporate players, be it Nico Williams, Haaland, Messi... whoever. And we are not going to change anything"
In this sense, the president of LaLiga recalled that the governing body of Spanish football is in the obligation to clarify doubts in economic matters, yes, without revealing confidential data:
"Athletic Club de Bilbao does not have to make any note. It is our obligation to explain doubts about Financial Fair Play. We are transparent. We do not reveal in-depth economic situations of clubs, but it is known, because there was a divisional board in the month of February in which the salary limits were explained and the situation of FC Barcelona was exposed, due to the 'Olmo case'", he pointed out.
Javier Tebas insists: Barça still does not operate under the 1:1 rule
At this point, the Spanish lawyer once again emphasized that Barcelona still does not operate under the 1:1 rule, based on the statements of Joan Laporta himself:
"I'm not saying it, the president of FC Barcelona has said it: they are not in the 1:1 rule. I hope they are as soon as possible, as I wish all clubs were. But, as I always say, FC Barcelona knows what it has to do to be in the 1:1 rule, because it already knows the regulatory rules well. And Athletic Club also knows what FC Barcelona has to do, because in February we were very transparent so that no one doubts Financial Fair Play," he asserted.
"I'm not saying it, the president of FC Barcelona has said it: they are not in the 1:1 rule"
In turn, following that same line, Tebas acknowledged that, even if the Azulgrana team manages to operate under the 1:1 rule, that does not mean that it can make signings automatically:
"Athletic and Barça know what they have to do if they remember that divisional board and are attentive. And we are going to enforce the rules that exist. My wish is that FC Barcelona has the 1:1 rule, but that does not mean that, automatically, it can incorporate players. I have to have the capacity to incorporate players. If I have to sign, for example, for 100 million, I will have to generate income for 100 million. Let everyone do their sums and subtractions," he said.
"My wish is that FC Barcelona has the 1:1 rule, but that does not mean that, automatically, it can incorporate players"
Changes in the 'fair play' financial regulations
On the other hand, Javier Tebas recalled a recent change in the 'fair play' financial regulations: "In November 2024, changes were approved in the assembly to the Financial Fair Play rule that they already know, and that may make it somewhat different. For youth players, such as Lamine Yamal, the request from the clubs was that we could not be so strict with them, because at 19 years old I cannot renew them and they escape me. So, the following year it will count what was not counted this year. And that benefits all teams that have youth players, such as Athletic Club de Bilbao, for example," he sentenced.
FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORKS:
- INSTAGRAM: @fcbarcelonanoticias_com
- X (TWITTER): @FCBNOTICIAS
- THREADS: @fcbarcelonanoticias_com