Barcelona have been fined €602 by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following a complaint from Atlético Madrid over the Catalan club's pursuit of Argentine striker Julián Álvarez.
The decision brings an end to the disciplinary proceedings opened after Atlético accused Barcelona of approaching their forward without first notifying the Madrid club in writing. The complaint centred on whether Barcelona had followed the required procedures before attempting to negotiate with a player who remained under contract with another club.
Why did Atlético Madrid Report Barcelona for the Julian Alvarez deal?
Atlético Madrid lodged complaints against Barcelona with both the RFEF and FIFA after becoming concerned about the Catalan club's interest in Álvarez. The Spanish club argued that Barcelona should have formally notified them in writing before initiating negotiations with the Argentine forward.
Under the relevant Spanish football regulations, clubs interested in signing a professional player who remains under contract must inform the player's current club before beginning negotiations. Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético Madrid until June 2030, making the circumstances surrounding Barcelona's reported interest a source of tension between the two La Liga rivals.
The dispute intensified during the summer transfer window, with Atlético determined to keep hold of their forward despite Barcelona's interest in securing his services.
Following an investigation into Atlético's complaint, the RFEF imposed a €602 fine on Barcelona under Article 133 of its disciplinary regulations.
The provision covers failure to comply with orders, instructions, agreements or regulatory obligations. It allows for a financial penalty of up to €602 for offences classified under the relevant provision.
Although Atlético's complaint generated considerable attention, the final punishment was limited to a financial sanction. The decision concludes the disciplinary proceedings with a relatively small penalty compared with the financial scale of modern football transfers.
Meanwhile, FIFA did not proceed with Atlético's separate complaint, stating that it lacked jurisdiction over the matter.
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