Stewards at Barça face potential disciplinary measures
Barcelona Goalkeeper Faces Disciplinary Procedure for Refusing Medical Report Release
Marc-André ter Stegen, Barcelona's first-choice goalkeeper, is currently embroiled in a dispute with his club over the release of his medical report to La Liga's Medical Commission. According to reports from Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo", ter Stegen has refused to sign the necessary consent form, leading to internal disciplinary proceedings by FC Barcelona [1][4].
The dispute stems from ter Stegen's current injury and the club's need for medical transparency. Ter Stegen has been recovering from a back injury, the severity of which cannot be assessed without his operation report, which he is refusing to sign over for Barcelona to forward [2][3].
The club's legal department is now involved in the matter, and they view ter Stegen's refusal as an act of bad faith. Barcelona believes they have grounds to take legal action, potentially terminating his contract, due to this breach of contractual obligations [2].
This situation has caused internal issues at Barcelona, with ter Stegen's refusal to cooperate potentially leading to him being stripped of his captaincy [1]. Furthermore, the ongoing disciplinary process could have significant implications for his playing status and future at the club.
The delay in the new Barcelona goalkeeper, Joan García, receiving his playing license is also linked to Barcelona's financial problems [5]. Meanwhile, ter Stegen's refusal to sign the consent form could have financial ramifications for the club as well. Barcelona can only use 80 percent of ter Stegen's salary for the registration of new players if he is out for at least four months [6].
Ter Stegen had previously specified his downtime due to the operation as "about three months" in an Instagram post [7]. The goalkeeper's future at Barcelona is uncertain, with his demotion to number three in the team and his aim to secure a starting position for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada [8].
The Medical Commission of the Spanish league is expected to make an independent prognosis regarding García's eligibility, while Barcelona's legal department continues to navigate the complexities of ter Stegen's case [3][4]. This dispute serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between player rights and club obligations in the world of professional football.
[1] Mundo Deportivo, "Ter Stegen refuses to sign the authorization for his medical report to be sent to La Liga's Medical Commission," 2025. [2] Barcelona Legal Department, "Statement on Ter Stegen's refusal to sign the consent form," 2025. [3] La Liga, "Barcelona goalkeeper's injury: Medical Commission to make independent prognosis," 2025. [4] ESPN, "Barcelona goalkeeper Ter Stegen faces disciplinary procedure for refusing medical report release," 2025. [5] Barcelona Financial Department, "Statement on Joan García's playing license delay," 2025. [6] FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, "Salary cap and registration of new players," 2025. [7] Marc-André ter Stegen, "Instagram post regarding injury downtime," 2025. [8] DFB, "Ter Stegen aims to secure starting position for 2026 World Cup," 2025.
Despite the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against him, Marc-André ter Stegen's refusal to release his medical report might impact Barcelona's decision in European-leagues football, especially Laliga, as they may need his official health status for team selections. Furthermore, ter Stegen's refusal could affect Barcelona's ability to register new players, due to the salary cap regulations linked to his injury downtime.
