August 7 – It’s not often a club takes disciplinary action against their number one starting goalkeeper and captain but Barcelona appear to be doing just that with Marc-André ter Stegen.
It stems from a row over the German’s refusal to sign a consent form for his medical data to be shared with LaLiga.
On July 29th, Ter Stegen, 33, had lower back surgery and now – once it receives the club’s injury report – a LaLiga medical committee must convene to decide if its emergency injury rule can apply in Ter Stegen’s case.
That would allow at least 50% of the German’s salary to be freed up for registration purposes under LaLiga’s injury provision regulations. Given the club’s perilous financial situation, this would help them register some of their new signings.
But without Ter Stegen’s consent, no medical information can be shared, and the rule only applies to players sidelined for at least four months, with the German disputing that he will be out for that long.
Barca Sporting Director Deco was supposedly caught off guard when he received a certified fax from Ter Stegen with his refusal to sign the report. Additionally, rumours were circulating that the club were going to move him on this summer after signing Joan García from Espanyol and renewing the contract of Wojciech Szczesny.
Ter Stegen has the support of the German Football Association (DFB), whose Sporting Director Andreas Rettig leapt to his defence earlier this week. But a planned meeting between the player and his club on Wednesday did not take place.
Ter Stegen’s aim is to return to fitness, compete for the No. 1 shirt at Barcelona, and cement his place as Germany’s starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup. But with disciplinary proceedings now opened against him, and the club considering whether to strip him of the captaincy, his future appears to be uncertain.