Barcelona unable to register new non-EU players - but Lucy Bronze not affected
By Ali Rampling
Barcelona are currently unable to register new signing Geyse Ferreira ahead of the 2022/23 Primera Division season due to an ongoing dispute between the Professional Women's Football League and Spanish FA over players from non-European Union countries.
England star Lucy Bronze was initially thought to be affected by the problem, but it has since come to light that the former Manchester City defender already has a Portuguese I.D. card and can claim citizenship and a passport at any time through her father's nationality.
Bronze joined Barcelona this summer following the end of her contract at Manchester City, while Geyse has signed for the Spanish champions from fellow Primera Division outfit Madrid CFF.
The 2022/23 Primera Division campaign is just the second professional season in the league's history, and kicks off on Sunday 11 September. But Mundo Deportivo has reported that, currently, new players with non-EU status cannot be registered.
Geyse - a Brazil international - is classified as a non-EU player.
The Spanish FA (RFEF) and the Professional Women's Football League (LPFF) have been locked in a dispute over a number of issues since the conclusion of the 2021/22 Primera Division season - including finalising the TV schedule and match calendar for the 2022/23 campaign, and agreeing rules regarding the registration of non-EU players.
The dispute stems from a lack of clarification over the number of non-EU players who can be registered and take part in official competitions.
Barcelona are already suffering a shortage of outfield players heading into the season's curtain raiser with Levante Las Planas on 11 September. Alexia Putellas, Cata Coll, Jana Fernández, Asisat Oshoala and Bruna Vilamala are all long term absentees, while Marta Torrejón, Laia Codina, Nuria Rábano, Mapi Leon and Aitana Bonmatí have shorter term injury problems.