Barcelona fined over breaking Spanish Football Association regulations

Barcelona have been fined by the Spanish Football Association after Atletico Madrid accused them of poaching Julian Alvarez without written notification. This puts an end to the feisty transfer saga, for now.Barcelona president Joan Laporta. (Reuters Photo)New Delhi,Oct 28, 2026 11:59 ISTFC Barcelona have been fined by the Spanish Football Association over their pursuit of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. The Catalan club, currently top of the LaLiga standings, had tried to sign the Argentine during the summer transfer window.Atletico accused Barcelona of approaching Alvarez, whose contract runs until June 2030, without first notifying them in writing. The Spanish FA has now fined Barcelona 602 euros (Rs 63,746.38) for breaching its regulations.The sanction falls under Article 133 of the federation's regulations. Atletico had also lodged a complaint with FIFA over the matter, but the global governing body ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over the case.JULIAN ALVAREZ TRANSFER SAGAWhile the financial penalty is relatively small, the dispute has added to the attention surrounding Alvarez's future at Atletico. The Argentine had fuelled speculation about a possible move to Barcelona during an interview at the 2026 World Cup, when he spoke about his desire to fulfil his dream of playing for the Catalan club. His comments reportedly angered Atletico supporters, with the striker frequently booed by sections of the home crowd this season.However, Alvarez has shown signs of winning back the fans. He scored the winner against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, finding the net for a second successive match as Atletico moved within two points of LaLiga leaders Barcelona. Following the match, the forward apologised for his earlier remarks and acknowledged the frustration among supporters."It was a mistake. I understand why the fans are angry. If I were a fan, I'd be angry too. Especially given how they've supported me since I arrived," Alvarez said.The striker's comments at the World Cup, where he said he wanted to fulfil his dream of playing for Barcelona, had triggered a transfer dispute that stretched through the summer window.Despite the tension, his decisive goal against Deportivo appeared to mark a shift in the mood at the Metropolitano. Alvarez received a standing ovation from sections of the Atletico crowd after scoring, suggesting that his relationship with the club's supporters could be beginning to improve.- Ends