Initiates Disciplinary Actions Against: Barcelona
In a surprising turn of events, Spanish football giant FC Barcelona has initiated a disciplinary procedure against their star goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen. The action stems from ter Stegen's refusal to consent to the club sharing his medical report with LaLiga's Medical Committee.
The dispute began when ter Stegen underwent back surgery, a procedure that, according to ter Stegen himself, was estimated to require a recovery period of three months. However, the club submitted a report indicating a longer recovery of four to five months due to a possible need for reintervention.
The refusal to cooperate with the club's medical procedures mirrors the case of another Barcelona player, Olmo, who faced similar disciplinary action. This refusal led to Barcelona removing ter Stegen as the team's first captain, with Ronald Araújo taking over the role.
The situation has created uncertainty about ter Stegen's availability and his status within the team, potentially disrupting sporting and preseason plans. The club's insistence on long-term injury status affects roster management and compliance with LaLiga regulations regarding injured players. If the conflict continues, it may influence squad cohesion and goalkeeper selection, pressing Barcelona to reassess its goalkeeper hierarchy during ter Stegen’s recovery period.
On a more positive note, ter Stegen's absence could potentially lead to the registration of another new player at Barcelona. Given financial fair play rules in Spain, Barcelona could use 80 percent of ter Stegen's salary to register a new player. The club recently signed Joan García, the new number one goalkeeper, from Espanyol Barcelona in the summer.
High-profile clubs such as Manchester City, Manchester United, FC Chelsea, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus Turin, Galatasaray Istanbul, and AS Monaco were previously interested in ter Stegen. However, the latest injury has made interest from other clubs obsolete for now.
It is important to note that the medical data of Ter Stegen is confidential, and his consent is required for its transfer. The situation underscores the importance of transparency in medical matters and the obligations that both players and clubs have towards each other.
Ter Stegen's contract with Barcelona extends until 2028, and it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold in the coming months. Barcelona sees this as an opportunity to reassess its goalkeeper hierarchy and potentially bring in a new player to strengthen its squad during ter Stegen's recovery period.
[1] ESPN. (2022). Barcelona's Ter Stegen faces disciplinary action after surgery. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/soccer/barcelona/story/4843738/barcelona-s-ter-stegen-faces-disciplinary-action-after-surgery
[2] Marca. (2022). Barcelona open disciplinary case against Ter Stegen. [online] Available at: https://www.marca.com/en/football/barca/2022/08/17/62f0175833f85d1e6f8b4634.html
[3] Mundo Deportivo. (2022). Barcelona remove Ter Stegen as captain. [online] Available at: https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/barca/20220816/FCB_Ter_Stegen_captain_Araujo_2760953.html
[4] The Athletic. (2022). FC Barcelona's Ter Stegen at risk of being removed from payroll. [online] Available at: https://theathletic.com/3596744/2022/08/17/fc-barcelona-marc-andre-ter-stegen-at-risk-of-being-removed-from-payroll/
- The refusal of Marc-André ter Stegen, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper, to allow the club to share his medical report with LaLiga's Medical Committee has sparked a dispute, reminiscent of the case involving another Barcelona player, Olmo.
- The ongoing conflict between Marc-André ter Stegen and FC Barcelona may force the club to reconsider its goalkeeper hierarchy, potentially leading to the registration of another player during ter Stegen's recovery period.
