Sportsupdated 1h ago2 min read
RFEF Fines Barcelona 602 Euros After Atlético Madrid Complaint Over Julián Álvarez Talks
“The €602 penalty amounts to little more than a symbolic punishment for Barcelona”
“The fine was issued by the Spanish football association.”
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Barcelona fined €602 by RFEF for contacting Julián Álvarez without Atlético's notification. Atlético Madrid filed complaints with FIFA and RFEF alleging improper pursuit.
RFEF fines Barcelona
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) decided to sanction Barcelona with an economic fine of 602 euros after Atlético de Madrid filed a formal complaint over Barcelona negotiating irregularly with Argentine forward Julián Álvarez during the last transfer window. The RFEF opened an administrative file because FIFA lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the dispute, and the federation relied on Article 133 of the disciplinary code to impose the monetary penalty. Atlético’s complaint centered on a rule obliging any institution interested in hiring a professional with an active vínculo to notify in writing the club of origin before initiating any contact with the footballer.
Barcelona’s fine was also described as 602 euros, which BBC reported as 602 euros (£503), and BBC said Álvarez remained at Atletico with a contract running until June 2030. Álvarez took the opportunity to apologise to Atletico’s fans after scoring the winning goal against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
FIFA no jurisdiction
Álvarez’s contract status drove the RFEF case, because the complaint alleged Barcelona approached the 26-year-old attacker without first notifying Atlético de Madrid in writing. FIFA declared it had no jurisdiction over the case after Atlético also complained to Fifa. The RFEF based its decision on Article 133, which Diario AS described as covering minor breaches of regulatory obligations, and the federation concluded its investigation by imposing the 602-euro fine.
Cadena 3 Argentina framed the penalty as “ridiculous” while describing the federation’s reliance on Article 133 of the disciplinary code for noncompliance with regulatory obligations. Diario AS reported that Álvarez publicly expressed his desire to leave Atlético while at the World Cup in the United States, saying he wanted “a transfer, because it’s best for everyone involved.”
Barcelona refuses to pay
Marca reported that Barcelona refuses to accept the fine imposed by the Spanish Federation and that it will not pay it, even as the RFEF sanctioned the club with 602 euros. Barcelona’s refusal was rooted in the club’s view that its conduct was correct, because the club maintained that its contact with Julián Álvarez was proper and that Atlético de Madrid was informed directly of its interest. Goal also reported that Barcelona acknowledged the fine is “ridiculous” and said it would appeal the decision to annul the fine and all other sanctions related to the case.
The club considered the fine “ridiculous” and did not want to pay it, while Emol quoted the federation’s Article 133 language describing a fine of up to 602 euros for minor infringement. The dispute’s earlier precedent remained part of the narrative, because Agencia Noticias Argentinas said that in 2019 Atlético had already taken legal action against Barcelona over an identical episode involving Antoine Griezmann, which was closed with a symbolic fine of only 300 euros.