Hans Flick, the German tactician at the helm of FC Barcelona, has recently amended his stringent protocol regarding punctuality on matchdays within the team’s dressing room. This adjustment, reported by our news portal, reflects a strategic shift prioritizing the club’s overall interests.
During an appearance on the television program El Hormiguero last Monday, Pedri and Ferran Torres disclosed that Barcelona players who fail to arrive on time for matches will no longer be relegated to the bench as a disciplinary measure. Instead, they will be subjected to substantial financial penalties.
New Disciplinary Measures at Barcelona
The sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo corroborated these revelations, explaining that Flick, who previously enforced late arrivals by benching players, has now replaced this rule with a hefty fine system. According to Ferran Torres’ statement on the show, the fine approaches 40,000 euros, although the publication La Vanguardia specifies the exact sum imposed on tardy players to be 50,000 euros.
This policy change implies that individuals such as Jules Koundé, Iñaki Peña, or Marcus Rashford—formerly impacted by the benching rule—would have been eligible to participate in matches despite their lateness, albeit at a significant monetary cost.
Under Flick’s stewardship, Barcelona achieved remarkable success last season, securing the domestic treble and reaching the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. Currently, in the ongoing campaign, the team leads La Liga standings with 61 points, narrowly ahead by a single point over second-placed Real Madrid. Furthermore, Barcelona has directly qualified for the Champions League Round of 16 without the need for additional playoffs.