Atlético Madrid accused Barcelona of negotiating with Julián Álvarez without permission after refusing to sell the forward. The federation reportedly imposed a €602 fine.
Spain’s Royal Football Federation has fined Barcelona €602 following Atlético Madrid’s complaint over its approach to forward Julián Álvarez, Armsport said on 27 October, citing Mundo Deportivo and The Touchline. FIFA separately declared that it had no jurisdiction over Atlético’s complaint.
Atlético also complained to FIFA, football’s world governing body, but FIFA said it lacked jurisdiction—the authority to decide the case—BBC said on 27 October. Atlético accused Barcelona of approaching Álvarez without first notifying the club in writing.
Barcelona tried to sign the Argentine forward during the summer, but Atlético refused to release him and alleged that Barcelona had negotiated without its permission. In its 30 July 2026 account, AS said Atlético had publicly objected on 29 May to what it called a campaign against one of its players. That statement named neither Barcelona nor Álvarez; AS identified them as its subjects.
Atlético filed its formal complaint on 30 June, alleging negotiations with a player under contract during the protected period—a period covered by special contract-breach rules. On 30 July, the federation’s Disciplinary Committee opened proceedings over the alleged contacts, appointed an investigator and gave Barcelona an opportunity to submit arguments.
A comparable dispute in 2019 ended with a €300 fine for Barcelona over its pursuit of Antoine Griezmann. AS said Barcelona had begun negotiations without notifying Atlético; the clubs also disputed the amount of the player’s release clause.
The 16-year-old was sent off at Fleetwood in his second start of the season, leaving Arsenal short of wing options before Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.
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Armsport described €602 as the minimum punishment. AS’s July account quoted two possible disciplinary provisions with different fine ranges:
| Disciplinary provision | Fine range |
|---|---|
| Article 93 | €602–€3,006 |
| Article 133 | Up to €602 |
Armsport, citing Mundo Deportivo, also listed suspension of up to two months, suspension for at least two matches or stadium closure for one match as possible penalties. Those were options, not the punishment imposed.
Álvarez remained at Atlético, where his contract runs until June 2030.
The appeal tribunal removed an additional suspended spectator ban, but each club must still play its next home Scottish Cup tie without fans and pay the visiting side £100,000.
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Ben Duckett’s career-best 167 and Liam Dawson’s four wickets give England a consolation win in Lahore, with Sri Lanka already through to the final against Pakistan.
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Update ·
FIFA declared it had no jurisdiction over Atlético Madrid’s separate complaint about Barcelona’s approach to Julián Álvarez.
