The Court of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has issued a fine of €602 to FC Barcelona for the “Julián Álvarez case”, following the complaint filed by Atlético de Madrid. The measure applies to the alleged violation of the rules for hiring players with a current contract, as established in the Competition Regulations.
The file, opened at the end of July, arose when Atlético alleged that Barça had “touched” Julián Álvarez, a player with an active contract, without following the mandatory procedure of written notification to the title club before starting negotiations. FIFA could not intervene because the case does not fall under its jurisdiction, so the RFEF made the final decision.
The Barça club must pay the fine of €602, a figure derived from Article 133 of the regulations, which contemplates light sanctions for non-compliance with regulatory orders or agreements. The sanction may include, in addition to the fine, disqualification or suspension of up to two months, or the closure of one or two matches, although in this case a financial penalty was chosen.
Atlético de Madrid cited the same procedure that was followed in 2019 when it denounced Barça for signing a contract with Antoine Griezmann. At that time, the RFEF imposed a fine of €300, establishing a clear precedent regarding the obligation to notify clubs before negotiating with players linked to another team.
Barça has not officially commented on the resolution, but the sanction reflects the importance of complying with the hiring protocols established by the federation. The case reinforces the need for clubs to respect formal procedures to avoid sanctions, although in this case the financial penalty is minimal.
With the final resolution, Atlético de Madrid has complied with its claim and Barça has received the corresponding fine. No appeals or additional actions are foreseen, and the file is closed with the imposition of the financial penalty.