FC Barcelona have been fined €602 by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following a complaint from Atlético Madrid over the club’s alleged approach for striker Julián Álvarez.

The fine was imposed after the RFEF examined Atlético’s allegation that Barcelona had explored the possibility of signing Álvarez without first notifying his current club in writing.

The disciplinary committee issued the sanction under Article 133 of the RFEF regulations, which covers failure to comply with orders, instructions, agreements or regulatory obligations. The offence was classified as minor.

Why Atlético Madrid Filed the Complaint

Atlético Madrid filed a complaint with the RFEF and FIFA on June 30, 2026. The club alleged that Barcelona had contacted Álvarez’s representatives during the protected period of his contract.

The Argentine forward is under contract with Atlético until June 2030, with a reported release clause of €500 million.

Under the relevant Spanish football regulations, a club seeking to sign a player who is still contracted to another team must notify the player’s current club in writing before beginning negotiations.

Atlético argued that Barcelona had failed to follow this procedure while exploring a possible transfer for the striker.

FIFA declined to consider Atlético’s separate complaint, citing a lack of jurisdiction. The RFEF subsequently handled the disciplinary proceedings.

RFEF Examines Contact Between Barcelona and Álvarez’s Agent

As part of its investigation, the disciplinary committee examined a conversation held on May 15, 2026, between Fernando Hidalgo, Álvarez’s agent, and Deco, Barcelona’s sporting director.

According to reports on the ruling, Hidalgo told Deco that Atlético would be willing to listen to offers for the striker. He also indicated that he had permission to present the player to the market.

However, the committee found insufficient evidence to establish that Atlético had formally authorised negotiations over Álvarez’s departure.

It also distinguished between discussing the player’s valuation and granting official permission to negotiate a transfer.

The committee concluded that Barcelona had explored the possibility of signing Álvarez through his representative without first notifying Atlético directly in writing.

However, it did not consider the available evidence sufficient to classify the conduct as a serious offence. The committee therefore applied Article 133, resulting in a fine of €602.

Barcelona Given Opportunity to Appeal

According to Spanish media reports, Barcelona has the right to appeal the decision to the RFEF Appeals Committee within 10 days.

An appeal could lead to further consideration of the case. Until then, the €602 fine remains the sanction imposed by the federation.

The decision has attracted attention because of the relatively small financial penalty in a dispute involving two of Spanish football’s prominent clubs and one of Atlético’s key attacking players.

Julián Álvarez Remains at Atlético Madrid

Álvarez remained at Atlético Madrid after the summer transfer window, despite the speculation surrounding his future.

The controversy gained further attention after comments attributed to the forward about his dream of playing for Barcelona reportedly upset some Atlético supporters. He later apologised for the situation.

The striker’s future continues to attract interest, given Barcelona’s reported interest and his importance to Atlético Madrid.

For now, Barcelona faces a €602 fine over the disciplinary case. Any further development will depend on whether the club challenges the decision and the outcome of any appeal.

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