FC Barcelona has been fined 602 euros by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for making unauthorized contact with Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez, but the club is refusing to pay and plans to appeal, according to Spanish outlets AS and Marca, which cited the RFEF.
The decision followed a complaint from Atlético Madrid, which accused Barcelona of negotiating with Álvarez without first contacting the club in writing, as required. Álvarez remains under contract with Atlético through June 30, 2030. The RFEF based its ruling on Article 133 of its regulations, which covers minor rule violations. Atlético had also filed a complaint with FIFA, but the governing body said it had no jurisdiction over the matter.
Despite the small sum involved, Barcelona is not backing down. According to media reports including Marca, the club considers the 602 euros "ridiculously small" but refuses to pay on principle, insisting it acted correctly.
How the dispute began
The row escalated over the summer after Álvarez raised the possibility of a transfer during the World Cup in the United States. "A transfer is the best thing for everyone involved," the player said after Argentina's World Cup group-stage match against Austria, adding that he wanted to fulfill a dream by making the move.
Atlético CEO Miguel Ángel Gil Marín subsequently accused Barcelona of negotiating with Álvarez during the so-called "protection period." Álvarez faced criticism over his comments, particularly from Atlético supporters.
When the transfer ultimately fell through, Álvarez was initially left out of training and matches with the Madrid club. He was gradually reintegrated into the squad over the course of the fall, scoring in the Champions League against VfB Stuttgart and in La Liga against Deportivo A Coruña. He later apologized to Atlético fans for the events of the summer.
Precedents in Spanish football
A similar dispute arose in the summer of 2019, when Atlético filed a complaint against Barcelona over unauthorized negotiations with French forward Antoine Griezmann. The RFEF fined Barcelona 300 euros at the time but did not find it proven that Griezmann had signed a contract with the Catalan club while still under contract with Atlético.
More recently, Cristiano Ronaldo received a comparable fine of 255 euros following his departure from the Portugal national team's training camp during the Nations League.
