Barcelona youngster Lionel Messi has been given the all-clear to play in the Spanish league.
The 18-year-old Argentinian has been at the centre of a dispute over his eligibility to represent Barcelona in domestic football, after the Primera Liga changed its rules on ‘assimilated’ players.
It meant he was unable to play in domestic competition for the club as they had already filled their quota of three non-EU players, although he was free to play for them in the Champions League.
Barca thought the issue hasd been settled when Messi was granted a Spanish passport last month and played him in their 2-2 home draw with Real Zaragoza.
However, complaints that he had not been registered by the August 31 deadline, led to a further investigation.
Those complaints have now been rejected by the Spanish Football Association, meaning Messi is now free to play for Barcelona.
“The committee has decided not to process the complaint for wrongful selection,” RFEF competitions committee president Alfredo Florez stated.
“The player is playing with a junior licence and there is no reason why he should not continue to do so.
“He hasn’t been given a new licence and he also now has Spanish nationality. We have looked at all the circumstances and we understand that there is no breach of rules if Messi plays.”
