Barcelona official confirms dispute with La Liga over VIP seats operation | OneFootball

Barcelona have faced a real uphill battle in returning to the financial 1:1 rule, and La Liga’s strict financial audits and clauses have only further complicated matters and distanced them from the same.

The construction of VIP seats in the new Spotify Camp Nou and the sale of their rights was long expected to be the level that helps Barcelona account for the financial deficit and return to the 1:1 rule.

La Liga, however, refused to accept the projected wages first because the seats were not yet constructed and ‘did not exist’. Now that the section in the stadium is ready, they are refusing on other grounds.

A fight with La Liga

As relayed by SPORT, La Liga are refusing to accept the calculation of income from the VIP seats on the audit, claiming that Barcelona have not yet made that income.

The club, meanwhile, argue that it is a ‘projected income’ that will certainly be reached now that the seats are constructed and a party is in place to purchase the rights.

Speaking in a press conference earlier today, the club’s director of sections, Xavi O’Callaghan, reiterated the same and confirmed the situation to the media.

“Fair play depends on projected revenue. If you tell LaLiga ‘this year I will generate this income,’ you haven’t earned it yet—you’re saying you will,” he said.

The VIP seats deal is crucial for Barcelona to return to 1:1 rule. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

“And the interpretation of VIP seat income, for example, is one thing for Barça and another for La Liga. That’s where the discrepancy and dispute lie,” he added, confirming the dispute.

Stressing the importance of including the revenue on the record, he added,

“You have to play with the revenue, and if you consider it valid (including VIP seats) but LaLiga does not, then you have a problem.”

“That’s why the Board is also taking risks, because if our perception of revenue differs from La Liga’s, you’re already committed,” he added.

At this point, there is thus clear friction between the club and the league offices over how the projected revenue must be accounted for and the result of the same will dictate whether or not the Catalans return to the 1:1 rule this summer.