Just a year ago, Barça experienced a surreal situation with one of its players. Dani Olmo, already signed, already paid for, already under contract, was blocked by LaLiga when it came time to be registered.
The club completed all the steps, the footballer did as well, but the league said "no." The most serious thing, however, wasn't Tebas's refusal. What was concerning was the total inaction of the one who was supposed to protect the player: the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE).
No one at AFE seemed to care that a footballer was left in no man's land and in a paid situation. Barça paid Stuttgart for his transfer, and not with Monopoly money. The player began to receive his salary as a Barça footballer.
But Javier Tebas's LaLiga did everything in its power to send the player to unemployment.
Not a single statement. Not a single complaint. Not a single action from AFE.
Only the Higher Sports Council, detached from partisan interests, was able to intervene to unblock the situation. It allowed Olmo to join the team. Meanwhile, AFE was nowhere to be found.
Now they do mobilize: the Ter Stegen case
But the story changes when the context is different. Now, with the conflict between Ter Stegen and Barça, AFE has reacted with unusual speed.
In less than 24 hours, they have publicly offered their support to the goalkeeper... against Barça.
What's curious is that there isn't any open legal conflict. There's only an internal disagreement between club and player about whether or not to declare a prolonged medical leave to register another goalkeeper.
AFE hasn't waited for Ter Stegen to request help. They've stepped forward to defend him, assuming that the club would be pressuring him, which hasn't been proven. Barça has asked him to sign a medical statement, something common in these cases, but hasn't forced him to do anything.
"Sociological Madridism" according to Laporta
This double standard hasn't gone unnoticed in the offices at Camp Nou. Joan Laporta already spoke in his day about "sociological Madridism," and many at the club believe this is yet another example.
While Madrid is allowed everything, Barça is scrutinized under a magnifying glass by every institution. Including AFE.
It's no coincidence that the president of the union, David Aganzo, is a former Real Madrid player. No one doubts his right to have an opinion or to help. It is questioned why he didn't show the same energy with Dani Olmo or with other Barça players affected by LaLiga's decisions.
Neither the president of the Federation, nor the one of LaLiga, nor the one of AFE hide their Madridist affiliation. They're the ones in charge.
At Barça it's not surprising, but it is annoying
The Catalan club is already used to this kind of maneuver. That doesn't mean they accept them without protest.
The feeling is that AFE has taken sides. Not precisely for the rights of all footballers, but for the interests of a few.
Dani Olmo's case is the proof. Ter Stegen's, the confirmation.