FC Barcelona are heading into the new season under a cloud of controversy, sanctions, and injury concerns, as disciplinary disputes and UEFA punishments hit the Catalan club hard.
The most dramatic twist surrounds goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who has been temporarily stripped of the captaincy following a dispute over his refusal to sign a medical report related to his recovery from back surgery. The German shot-stopper underwent the operation in late July, but local media claim he has resisted releasing his medical details to the club. Barcelona reportedly attempted to have him classified by La Liga as a long-term injury to ease their wage bill under Spain’s strict financial fair play regulations.
Ter Stegen, 33, took to Instagram on Friday to defend himself, saying: “Many things have been said about me – some of them entirely unfounded. The decision to undergo surgery was fully approved by the club… My commitment to these colours remains absolute.” He insisted he is willing to cooperate with management and rejected suggestions that his case should affect the registration of new signings.
His place in the starting lineup is now under threat from summer signing Joan Garcia and veteran Wojciech Szczesny, who helped the club secure last season’s La Liga title. Should the disciplinary process escalate, the last remaining member of Luis Enrique’s 2015 Champions League-winning team could even face contract termination under league rules.
While the ter Stegen saga unfolds, UEFA has handed down heavy punishments following Barça’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Inter Milan at San Siro. Forwards Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski have each been fined €5,000 for failing to immediately report for post-match doping control.
More damagingly, head coach Hansi Flick and assistant Marcus Sorg have been fined €20,000 each and banned for one Champions League match for misconduct. The suspension stems from heated clashes during and after the semi-final, with Flick openly questioning referee Szymon Marciniak’s decisions in the post-match press conference. Both men will miss Barcelona’s opening European fixture when the group-stage campaign begins following the August 28 draw.
Barcelona have also been fined €5,250 for objects thrown by fans and €2,500 for fireworks during the same match. Inter Milan were hit with €33,500 in fines for similar crowd-related offences.
As if the disciplinary woes weren’t enough, Lewandowski is now facing an injury setback just days before the start of the new season. The 36-year-old Poland international will miss Sunday’s Joan Gamper Trophy curtain-raiser against Como with a hamstring problem, and his recovery will determine whether he is fit for the La Liga opener against Mallorca on August 16.
Lewandowski was pivotal last season, scoring 42 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions and finishing as La Liga’s second-highest scorer behind Kylian Mbappé. Losing him, even temporarily, would be another blow for Flick as he prepares for his first full season in charge.
With the club wrestling to comply with financial fair play rules, facing bans in Europe, coping with a captaincy crisis, and managing key player injuries, Barcelona’s preseason optimism has been replaced by uncertainty. What was meant to be a fresh chapter under Flick is instead beginning with turbulence, making the weeks ahead critical both on and off the pitch.
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