Barcelona Clash with Marc-André ter Stegen Over Medical Report
FC Barcelona are reportedly prepared to take legal action against their former captain Marc-André ter Stegen in a tense dispute that goes far beyond a routine injury report. The club is demanding that the German goalkeeper signs off on an official medical statement for La Liga, which would allow Barça to benefit from a financial exemption under the league's salary cap regulations.
The conflict centers around Ter Stegen’s recent back surgery and, crucially, the expected duration of his recovery. While the player himself announced via social media that he expects to be sidelined for approximately three months, Barcelona believe the true recovery timeline could extend beyond four months. That distinction could make a huge difference — if the absence surpasses the four-month mark, La Liga rules allow the club to temporarily exclude his salary from their wage bill, aiding their ongoing Financial Fair Play struggles.
However, there’s a legal catch. Under Spanish privacy laws and FIFA’s regulations, a player’s medical data is considered strictly confidential. The club cannot submit Ter Stegen’s full medical report to La Liga without his explicit consent. And as it stands, the 32-year-old shot-stopper is refusing to sign off on the document.
Barcelona argue that the confidentiality clause no longer applies — at least not fully — since Ter Stegen voluntarily disclosed the nature of his injury and a recovery estimate in his own public statement. The club contends that while the full medical report might contain more detailed clinical data, the key elements (i.e. a lumbar spine injury and a projected 3–4 month layoff) are already in the public domain by the player’s own admission.
Despite the tension, the club acknowledges that it cannot override the player’s privacy without his cooperation — unless compelled by a court or arbitration panel. That’s why all signs now point to this turning into a sports-legal case to be resolved through football’s judiciary bodies.
