Barcelona Women in crisis: Men’s Financial Fair Play troubles force exits and threaten the squad’s future

Growing concern among fans

Barcelona Women, one of the best teams in the world, are facing a tense moment that has angered their supporters. The root of the problem isn’t on the pitch, but rather in the financial adjustments imposed by Financial Fair Play, a direct consequence of the men’s team’s poor administration.

In recent weeks, fans have seen the departure of key players such as Ingrid Engen, Ellie Roebuck, Fridolina Rolfö, Bruna Vilamala, and Martina Fernández. For years, the women’s section was self-sustaining, raising questions about why these major exits were happening — until the men’s team’s financial troubles came to light.

Men’s team struggles and registration problems

While the women’s squad suffers significant losses, the Barcelona men’s team has been unable to register players such as Joan García, Marcus Rashford, Wojciech Szczęsny, and Gerard Martín. The negative economic balance created by these issues has forced the club to take drastic measures, including parting ways with women’s team stars.

An uncertain future for key players

Concerns are mounting ahead of 2026, when the contracts of crucial figures such as Mapi León, Jana Fernández, Salma Paralluelo, Claudia Pina, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alexia Putellas, Cata Coll, and Ona Batlle are set to expire. Supporters fear that if the situation doesn’t improve, the club may be forced to let even more essential players go.

Impact beyond the club

This crisis worries not only Barcelona Women fans, but also the women’s game as a whole. The sport is experiencing historic growth: the recent Women’s Euro broke attendance records, and the NWSL now averages higher viewership than MLS. Yet this progress is being threatened by problems unrelated to the women’s section.

Fan reaction

Supporters’ groups and fan pages dedicated to Barcelona Women have voiced their frustration on social media, demanding that the team’s stability be prioritized. The big question remains: How far will the men’s team’s mismanagement impact the future of the women’s side?