Barcelona reinstates Ter Stegen as captain after swift resolution
Barcelona has reinstated Marc-André ter Stegen as captain and dropped disciplinary proceedings following a dramatic 24-hour standoff over his back injury. The dispute arose after the club reportedly sought to classify him as a long-term absentee freeing up wage funds for new signings but Ter Stegen’s three-month recovery fell short of La Liga’s four-month threshold.
The German goalkeeper, 33, initially refused to share medical data with the league but later signed the necessary forms, stating he was “fully willing to collaborate” with the club.
He denied claims that his absence was leveraged for financial gain, calling such suggestions “unfair and inaccurate.”
Meanwhile, manager Hansi Flick has been banned for Barcelona’s Champions League opener and fined €20,000 by UEFA for misconduct during last season’s semi-final defeat to Inter Milan. Assistant Marcus Sorg received the same penalty.
In a separate ruling, forwards Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski were fined €5,000 each for anti-doping protocol breaches during the same match.
Ter Stegen, a six-time La Liga winner, remains pivotal for Barça as they integrate new signings, including loanee Marcus Rashford. The resolution marks a swift end to a tense chapter ahead of their European campaign.
