The escalating conflict between Barcelona and the Spanish Football Federation reached boiling point on Monday when Lamine Yamal was withdrawn from national team duty after the club administered invasive treatment for his recurring groin injury without informing Spain’s medical staff. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente expressed shock and frustration at being blindsided by the procedure, declaring “I’ve never been through a situation like this before, and I don’t think it’s normal at all.”
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The Treatment That Sparked Outrage
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal was excluded from the Spain squad for upcoming World Cup qualifying games against Georgia and Turkey after undergoing an invasive radiofrequency procedure for the treatment of his pubic injury without prior communication to the national team. The 18-year-old sensation received the treatment on Monday morning, November 10—the very day Spain’s official training camp began.
Timeline of Communication Breakdown
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday, Nov 10 (morning) | Lamine Yamal undergoes invasive radiofrequency treatment at Barcelona |
| Monday, Nov 10 (1:47 PM) | RFEF learns of the procedure—over 6 hours after Spain camp officially started |
| Monday, Nov 10 (10:40 PM) | RFEF finally receives detailed medical report recommending 7-10 days rest |
| Tuesday, Nov 11 | RFEF releases statement expressing “surprise and discomfort” |
The Medical Services of the RFEF expressed their surprise and discomfort after learning at 13:47 on Monday that the player had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure that same morning, with knowledge of the details only through a report received at 22:40 last night.
The timing proved particularly inflammatory—Barcelona administered the treatment precisely when Yamal should have been reporting for international duty, creating a fait accompli that left Spain’s coaching staff scrambling to adjust their World Cup qualifying plans.
De la Fuente’s Unprecedented Frustration
Spain’s national team coach did not mince words when asked about the situation during a radio interview with RNE shortly after the RFEF’s official statement. “I’m shocked, I’ve never been through a situation like this before, and I don’t think it’s normal at all,” de la Fuente told RNE Deportes.
The Spain boss elaborated on his bewilderment: “Everyone is surprised, you don’t know anything, no news reaches you and you don’t know any details, then they suddenly tell you“. His frustration centered not just on the lack of advance notice, but on being kept completely in the dark about a medical procedure affecting one of his most important players.
“There are procedures that happen outside the Federation. That’s how it is, and we have to accept it. It isn’t very normal. No, I’ve never experienced a situation like this. I don’t think it’s very normal,” de la Fuente stated.
What particularly troubled de la Fuente was the sensitive nature of the concealed information. This wasn’t an administrative oversight or scheduling conflict—it involved the physical well-being of Spain’s brightest young talent. “Of course I was surprised. When you don’t know anything about it, you don’t know any details, and then someone tells you, you’re surprised. Especially with a medical issue,” de la Fuente explained.
The coach’s repeated use of phrases like “never experienced” and “not normal” underscored just how extraordinary he considered Barcelona’s actions. For a manager with decades of experience at various levels of Spanish football, such strong language revealed the depth of his frustration.
The RFEF’s Official Condemnation
The Royal Spanish Football Federation released a scathing statement that went far beyond typical diplomatic language between national teams and clubs. The statement read: “The procedure was carried out without prior communication to the medical staff of the National Team, with knowledge of the details only through a report received at 22:40 last night, which indicates the medical recommendation of rest for 7-10 days“.
The federation’s use of terms like “surprise and discomfort” (or “dismay” in some translations) represented unusually direct criticism of Barcelona’s handling of one of Spain’s most valuable players. The RFEF made clear they viewed the situation as a breach of the cooperative relationship that should exist between clubs and national teams.
Given the circumstances, the RFEF had no choice but to release Yamal from the current call-up, prioritizing “at all times the health, safety and well-being of the player.” The federation wished him “a speedy and full recovery,” but the warm words couldn’t disguise the institutional anger at Barcelona’s unilateral action.
Spain can secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup in their upcoming matches, making Yamal’s absence particularly untimely. The European champions had counted on fielding their strongest possible squad for these decisive fixtures, and losing one of their most talented attackers complicated their plans significantly.
The Deeper Context: A Conflict Months in the Making
This latest flashpoint represents just the most recent battle in an increasingly bitter war between Barcelona and Spain over Lamine Yamal’s physical management. The roots of the conflict trace back to September when tensions first exploded into public view.
September’s Painkiller Controversy
Barcelona had been left furious with the Spanish national team after seeing Yamal returned to them injured during the first break of the 2025-26 campaign. Blaugrana boss Hansi Flick said at the time: “He went with the national team in pain and did not train. They gave him painkillers to play“.
Flick’s criticism was scathing and specific: “They had at least a three-goal lead in every match, and he played 73 minutes and 79, and between matches he couldn’t train. That is not taking care of the player. I am very sad about this“.
The Barcelona manager’s accusations painted a damning picture—Spain had allegedly administered pain-killing injections to Yamal’s groin area to help him cope with discomfort during matches against Bulgaria and Turkey, despite comfortable leads that should have allowed him to be rested. This decision, Flick suggested, prioritized short-term results over the long-term health of an 18-year-old still physically developing.
De la Fuente and the RFEF initially bit back at Barcelona over what they characterized as a lack of communication from the club side. However, Flick refused to soften his stance, stating firmly: “I want to protect my player, support him, this is what it is. I must protect my player; this is the reason I made it a little louder than normally I want to do it“.
October’s Missed Window
The September controversy forced Yamal to miss five games for Barcelona and sit out the October international window entirely when the groin issue flared up again. The forced absence seemed to cool tensions temporarily, with both sides expressing hope that better communication would prevent future conflicts.
When de la Fuente named his November squad including Yamal, he sounded optimistic and conciliatory, emphasizing the player’s importance: “I believe he’s in perfect condition. His coach said he was ready to play. He’s getting back to being the player he always has been, and we celebrate that. Watching the game the other day, Lamine is fit to play. We have two very important games and we need to field our best players“.
That optimism now appears tragically misplaced, as Monday’s events demonstrated that the fundamental trust between club and country had not been restored.
The Nature of Yamal’s Injury: Pubalgia Explained
Understanding the medical dimension of this dispute requires grasping what pubalgia is and why it’s proving so problematic for the teenage sensation. The problem, known in Spanish as ‘pubalgia’, impacts a players’ ability to turn sharply and accelerate, and also causes pain when shooting.
Pubalgia, commonly called a sports hernia or athletic pubalgia, involves chronic groin pain resulting from a tear or strain in the soft tissue of the lower abdomen or inner thigh. Unlike a traditional hernia, there’s no visible bulge, but the pain can be debilitating for athletes whose movements require explosive changes of direction and power generation through the core.
The Radiofrequency Treatment
Barcelona applied an ‘invasive radiofrequency treatment’ to Lamine Yamal to deal with his sports hernia in the groin area. This procedure uses radio wave energy to heat specific nerves, disrupting their ability to send pain signals to the brain. It’s considered an intermediate step before surgery—more aggressive than conservative management but less invasive than full surgical intervention.
Recent reports stated that the 18-year-old visited a Belgian specialist doctor to treat his chronic pubic issues, and the results turned out to be positive. According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona welcomed Belgian surgeon Ernest Schilders, a specialist in pubic and adductor injuries, to conduct a follow-up evaluation on Lamine Yamal’s case.
The involvement of Dr. Schilders, one of Europe’s preeminent specialists in groin injuries, underscores how seriously Barcelona takes Yamal’s condition. The Belgian specialist believes Yamal is in good condition and that Barcelona’s current treatment plan is appropriate, highlighting clear progress in his recovery.
However, the concern is not only the injury’s impact, but the possibility that the pubalgia could turn into a chronic issue. This risk of chronicity explains Barcelona’s aggressive intervention—they’d rather deal with short-term unavailability than risk Yamal developing a career-limiting persistent condition.
Yamal’s Recent Performance Despite Injury
The complexity of managing this injury is evident in Yamal’s recent performances. After missing the match against Sevilla, Yamal has worked his way back by starting Barcelona’s last six games, showing mixed performances, including a quiet outing in the 2–1 Clásico defeat, before rediscovering his spark.
Yamal has played the full 90 minutes in three of Barcelona’s last four games—scoring in three consecutive outings. This recent form might have given Spain hope that he was fully recovered, making Barcelona’s decision to proceed with invasive treatment on the day of Spain’s camp opening all the more shocking to de la Fuente.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has acknowledged the ongoing management challenge. On Saturday, ahead of Barcelona’s win over Celta Vigo, Flick said: “We have to take care about him. For me, he changed his discipline. He’s much, much better now. He’s really training good. Also in the gym, the treatments he has every day. It’s important for this injury that he’s doing like this. I think also he comes back to the best level, but it’s not over, so it’s not done this injury. We have to take care of him, not just us, also the national team“.
Flick’s pointed reference to “also the national team” taking care of Yamal reveals that Barcelona’s trust in Spain’s player management remains severely damaged.
Competing Priorities: Club vs. Country
At the heart of this dispute lies a fundamental conflict between club and country priorities that has long simmered in football but rarely explodes so publicly.
Barcelona’s Perspective
From Barcelona’s viewpoint, they’re protecting a generational talent whose career could span two decades if properly managed but might be derailed by chronic injury if mishandled now. The club points to Spain’s alleged use of painkillers in September as evidence of the national team prioritizing immediate results over Yamal’s long-term welfare.
Cadena SER reported that Barcelona do not understand the Federation’s stance, while Lamine Yamal is keen to stay out of it. He is keen for the two to communicate to avoid further media battles. Barcelona have taken advantage of the ideal point at which to undergo treatment, when the competition is paused.
Barcelona’s argument is straightforward: with no club matches scheduled during the international break, this represented the perfect window for treatment. The 7-10 day recovery period would overlap entirely with the national team dates, allowing Yamal to return for Barcelona’s crucial fixtures against Athletic Club and Chelsea without missing any club games.
The Catalan club also emphasizes that Lamine Yamal’s camp was keen to have the treatment when he did, suggesting the player himself wanted to address the persistent problem now rather than risk it worsening.
Spain’s Perspective
De la Fuente and the RFEF see the situation entirely differently. They’re attempting to secure World Cup qualification in high-stakes matches where every player matters. Spain called up Yamal believing he was fit—a belief seemingly confirmed by his recent performances for Barcelona, including playing full matches.
For the national team, Barcelona’s unilateral decision to administer invasive treatment on the morning Spain’s camp began felt like a deliberate undermining of their preparations. The lack of advance notice prevented Spain from calling up a replacement or adjusting tactics, forcing last-minute changes to plans for matches that could determine World Cup qualification.
The Spain camp also questions Barcelona’s timing. If Yamal needed this treatment urgently, why did Barcelona wait until the exact moment of Spain’s camp to proceed? Why not perform the procedure earlier, giving more recovery time before potential World Cup qualifiers? The timing, to Spain’s staff, suggests either poor planning or deliberate sabotage of the national team’s preparations.
The Institutional Dimension: RFEF vs. Barcelona
This personal dispute between Flick and de la Fuente sits atop deeper institutional tensions between the Royal Spanish Football Federation and FC Barcelona—tensions that encompass everything from VAR controversies to refereeing appointments to the treatment of Catalan identity in Spanish football.
The case has highlighted structural deficiencies in communication channels between FC Barcelona and the RFEF. Despite decades of cooperation between Spain’s national team and its biggest clubs, this incident reveals that formal protocols for player management during international windows remain inadequately developed.
The RFEF’s statement emphasizing “without prior communication” repeatedly underscores what they view as Barcelona’s violation of professional norms. National team doctors should be consulted before clubs administer invasive procedures to called-up players—this principle seems obvious to the federation but was apparently disregarded by Barcelona.
For Barcelona, the RFEF’s outrage rings hollow given what they perceive as Spain’s mishandling of Yamal in September. The club believes they’ve lost trust in the national team’s ability to protect their players, making unilateral action necessary even if diplomatically awkward.
Caught in the Middle: Lamine Yamal’s Impossible Position
Perhaps the most unfortunate aspect of this entire saga is that Lamine Yamal himself appears eager to avoid the conflict that rages around him. Lamine Yamal is keen to stay out of it. He is keen for the two to communicate to avoid further media battles.
At just 18 years old, Yamal finds himself at the center of an institutional conflict between the club that pays his wages and the national team he dreams of representing at World Cups. He presumably wants to play for both Barcelona and Spain without becoming a pawn in their political maneuvering.
The teenager’s Instagram activity has reflected the stress of this situation. Yamal had previously hit out at what he called “lies” about his injury situation, frustrated by the public speculation and conflicting narratives surrounding his fitness.
What makes Yamal’s position even more delicate is that his body is still developing. Asked whether Yamal was in a delicate situation, De la Fuente stressed that he was aware that the Barcelona star’s body is still maturing. “It’s a natural process. He’s 18,” De la Fuente said.
Both Barcelona and Spain claim to be acting in Yamal’s best interests, yet the public warfare between them creates additional stress for a player who should be focused on developing his extraordinary talents.
What Comes Next
Yamal will miss Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia on November 15 and Turkey on November 18. Rayo Vallecano forward Jorge de Frutos has been called up in Yamal’s place. Spain remain strong favorites to qualify regardless, sitting atop Group E with 12 points from four games, three ahead of Turkey.
For Barcelona, Yamal should be back for a grueling run of games facing them after the international break, starting with Athletic Club at home in LaLiga and a trip to Chelsea in the Champions League. The timing of the treatment suggests Barcelona prioritized having Yamal available for these crucial club fixtures over his participation in what they viewed as non-essential World Cup qualifiers.
The deeper question is whether this relationship can be repaired. De la Fuente said he has yet to speak with Flick after the Barcelona coach voiced his frustration over previous call-ups. “No, we haven’t spoken again, we’ve only spoken once, anyway. I’m sure we’ll speak at some point“.
That eventual conversation will be crucial. With the 2026 World Cup less than eight months away and Euro 2028 on the horizon, Spain needs Lamine Yamal. But Barcelona won’t sacrifice their most valuable asset to national team ambitions if they believe his long-term health is at risk.
Read More: Thibaut Courtois Sidelined: Real Madrid Goalkeeper Faces 2-Week Absence with Adductor Injury
FAQs
What treatment did Lamine Yamal undergo that caused the controversy?
Lamine Yamal underwent an invasive radiofrequency procedure on Monday morning, November 10, to treat his pubalgia (sports hernia) in the groin area. Barcelona administered this treatment without informing Spain’s medical staff, on the same day Spain’s training camp officially began, requiring 7-10 days of recovery.
Why is Luis de la Fuente so upset about the situation?
De la Fuente expressed shock because Barcelona performed the invasive treatment without any prior communication to Spain’s medical staff. The RFEF only learned about it at 1:47 PM on the day camp started and didn’t receive a detailed medical report until 10:40 PM. De la Fuente said “I’ve never been through a situation like this before” and called it “not normal at all.”
What is pubalgia and why is it affecting Lamine Yamal?
Pubalgia, also called a sports hernia, is a chronic groin injury involving tears or strains in the soft tissue of the lower abdomen or inner thigh. It impacts a player’s ability to turn sharply, accelerate, and causes pain when shooting. Yamal has been managing this condition since September, missing five Barcelona games and one international window.
What happened in September that started this conflict?
In September, Barcelona accused Spain of giving Lamine Yamal painkilling injections to play through groin discomfort during matches against Bulgaria and Turkey. Barcelona boss Hansi Flick said Spain played him 73 and 79 minutes despite comfortable leads and that “between matches he couldn’t train,” calling it a failure to “take care of the player.”
Will Lamine Yamal miss important matches for Barcelona?
No. The 7-10 day recovery period overlaps entirely with the international break, meaning Yamal should be available for Barcelona’s crucial fixtures after—starting with Athletic Club at home in LaLiga and Chelsea away in the Champions League. This timing is partly why Barcelona chose this moment for treatment.
