Yamal's exclusion again sparks a crisis at Barcelona and the Federation

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on Tuesday the exclusion of Barcelona's young star Lamine Yamal from the upcoming matches against Georgia and Turkey after he underwent a medical procedure without informing the national team's medical staff. The federation explained that the decision was made in the player's best interests and to protect his health and well-being, but it sparked considerable controversy and discontent within the federation, which issued a strongly worded statement addressed to Barcelona without directly mentioning the player. The federation's statement read: "The medical staff of the Spanish Football Federation expresses its surprise and dismay upon learning on Monday, November 10, the first day of the national team's official training camp, that Lamine Yamal underwent an interventional procedure using radiofrequency waves to treat pain in his groin area. This procedure was performed without prior notification to the national team's medical staff, and we only learned of it through a report received at 10:40 PM, which included a medical recommendation for 7 to 10 days of rest. In light of these circumstances, the Spanish Federation has decided to exclude him from this call-up and wishes him a speedy and full recovery." According to the Spanish newspaper, the statement indicates that the crisis reflects the tension between Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Yamal has been at the center of ongoing controversy since last September, when coach Hansi Flick accused Spain's national team manager, De la Fuente, of failing to protect the player. Yamal had missed the last call-up due to physical problems before being recalled to the final training camp to secure the team's qualification for the World Cup, after playing normally for Barcelona. However, the interventional procedure the player underwent at the hands of the Catalan club prevented him from participating with the national team. The national team's coaching staff expresses its surprise at Barcelona's actions without informing the coach, given that the player would not have been able to play if he had undergone this medical procedure.