La Liga furious after Barcelona turned to FIFA for forward’s transfer dispute | OneFootball

Barcelona and La Liga are once again at odds, this time over the club’s approach to securing Vitor Roque’s transfer to Palmeiras.

According to reports from Joaquim Piera from SPORT, La Liga officials, including Javier Tebas, are not pleased that Barcelona sought clarification from FIFA regarding the legal feasibility of terminating the forward’s loan spell at Real Betis and completing a sale to the Brazilian club.

Barcelona’s legal team reached out to both FIFA and UEFA to determine whether there were any regulations preventing such a move, given that the transfer window in Spain had already closed.

La Liga’s stance was that the process ended once Roque was loaned to Betis, and they expected the club to abandon plans of selling him to Palmeiras despite the Brazilian market remaining open until Friday.

However, Barcelona remained firm in their approach, seeking validation from higher governing bodies to justify the transfer.

Greenlight from FIFA

La Liga are blocking Roque’s move. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

FIFA’s response was crucial in this situation, as they referenced a similar case involving a Palmeiras player in 2024. This precedent provided Barcelona with the legal argument needed to proceed with the deal.

If everything moves forward as planned, the club will generate €25 million in revenue before the end of June, which is vital for their ongoing financial restructuring.

Palmeiras have already submitted the necessary documentation, shifting the final decision to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Relationship is already strained

From La Liga’s perspective, though, Barcelona’s move has further strained relations, which were already tense following disagreements over the Olmo situation.

However, Barcelona insist that they have acted within the legal framework. Instead of exploiting loopholes or bending the rules, the club has simply utilised a FIFA regulation that allows such transfers under specific conditions.

Given their current financial strategy, securing this deal could be an essential step in strengthening the club’s financial stability.