LaLiga lowers Barca's wage cap after accounts revised

MADRID : LaLiga lowered Barcelona's wage cap on Wednesday after it said the club's recently revised accounts do not match the end-of-year figures from its previous auditor which included a 100 million euros ($108.15 million) transaction.

The previous accounts included proceeds from the sale of VIP seats in the renovated Camp Nou which allowed Barca to comply with LaLiga’s Financial Fair Play rules and extend the registration of players Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

LaLiga said in a statement it will file a complaint against Barcelona's previous auditors who approved the club's accounts as the new auditors - the third Barca have had in three months - disagreed with the criteria used to include the transaction.

According to LaLiga, new auditors Crowe Spain concluded that the 100 million euros should not be fully accounted for in this season's finances because the asset – new VIP seats – does not yet exist and cannot yet be considered as income for the club.

It added that based on its accounts Barcelona do not have the capacity to register Olmo and Victor.

Barca president Joan Laporta responded to LaLiga's statement on Wednesday ahead of his club's Copa del Rey semi-final, second leg at Atletico Madrid which is level at 4-4.

"Regarding the league's letter, we say that we see it as more of an attempt to damage the club's image and go against FC Barcelona's interests," he told reporters.

"Of course, the club will respond through its legal services, which are analysing LaLiga's letter in depth. We will respond as forcefully as necessary.

"Three months ago I said that Olmo and Pau Víctor's registrations had been carried out correctly, following each and every one of the requirements demanded by the RFEF and La Liga, and this is still the