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Lamine Yamal Withdrawn From Spain Squad: Barcelona and the RFEF Caught in a New Controversy
A new storm has erupted between Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The federation reacted angrily after learning that Lamine Yamal underwent a medical procedure without informing the national team doctors — and decided to withdraw him from Spain’s qualifying matches.
A New Conflict Between Barcelona and the Federation
Fresh tension has erupted between FC Barcelona and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), with Lamine Yamal once again at the center of controversy. The young winger was withdrawn from Spain’s squad and will miss the last two 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey.
The announcement came alongside a strongly worded official statement from the RFEF, in which the federation expressed its “surprise and discontent” over a medical procedure performed on the player without prior notice to the national team’s medical staff.
The Procedure That Sparked the Controversy
According to the RFEF, the organization’s medical services learned at 1:47 p.m. on Monday, November 10 — the first day of Spain’s training camp — that Lamine Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure earlier that same morning to treat a pubic injury he has been struggling with for weeks.
The statement added that the national team was not informed beforehand, and only received a medical report at 10:40 p.m. that evening, which recommended seven to ten days of rest. Faced with this situation, and “prioritizing the player’s health, safety, and well-being at all times,” the RFEF decided to release Yamal from the squad.
Reactions and Consequences
The decision has reignited tension between Barcelona and the RFEF, who have clashed several times in recent months over the physical management of young international players. Barça sources insist that the procedure was carried out under the supervision of the club’s medical staff, while the federation maintains it should have been informed in advance.
For now, Lamine Yamal will remain in Barcelona to continue his recovery program. The RFEF ended its statement on a conciliatory note:
“We trust he will recover well and wish him a full and speedy recovery.”
However, the situation underscores that the relationship between Barça and the Spanish Federation is once again strained — with the player’s health at the heart of yet another dispute between the two institutions.
