Spanish FA fines Barcelona 602 euros
Atletico Madrid received a formal sanction for contacting striker Julian Alvarez without prior written notice.
By Karan Cabrera ·
The Spanish Football Federation fined Barcelona 602 euros, or approximately $670, for approaching Julian Alvarez without first notifying his current club in writing. The sanction follows a formal complaint filed by Atletico Madrid regarding unauthorized contact with the Argentine striker.
The fine applies under Article 133 of the federation’s regulations. Atletico also submitted a complaint to FIFA, but the international body declared it had no jurisdiction over the dispute. Alvarez’s contract with Atletico runs through June 2030.
The transfer tension surfaced publicly after the 2026 World Cup, when Alvarez stated he wanted to fulfill his dream of playing for Barcelona. His comments triggered a transfer debate that continued through the summer window. This season, home supporters have frequently booed the striker in response to those remarks.
Alvarez addressed the resentment during a match against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday. He scored the winning goal in that fixture, marking a second consecutive match with a goal. His performance helped Atletico close the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona to two points.
After the match, Alvarez apologized to the crowd. He acknowledged the fans' anger and stated that if he were a supporter, he would feel the same way. He highlighted their consistent support since his arrival at the club.
The striker received a standing ovation from parts of the Metropolitano crowd after scoring. Alvarez joined Atletico from Manchester City in 2024 for a fee of up to 95 million euros. He has scored 51 goals in 115 appearances for the Spanish club.
His previous stint at Manchester City produced 36 goals in 103 games. The recent on-field success and public apology indicate a stabilizing relationship between the player and the home faithful.
Source: Al Jazeera
