Spanish football’s governing body, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has issued a €602 (approximately £503) fine to La Liga giants Barcelona, following a formal complaint filed by their top-flight rivals Atletico Madrid over improper contact with star striker Julian Alvarez. Atletico alleged that Barcelona’s representatives reached out to the 26-year-old Argentina international during the recent transfer window without first submitting the mandatory written notification required to approach a player still under contract with another La Liga side. The case was also escalated to global football governing body FIFA by Atletico officials, who confirmed that FIFA ruled it held no jurisdiction over the intra-Spanish league disciplinary matter, leaving the RFEF to deliver the final penalty. Alvarez, who is tied to Atletico on a contract running through June 2030, has faced sustained booing from sections of the club’s fanbase this season, after a summer interview in which he publicly stated his long-held “dream” of playing for Barcelona. The 2024 £81.5 million signing from Manchester City – where he notched 36 goals across 103 senior appearances – has since put those tensions on notice after netting his first La Liga goal of the current campaign, the match-winning strike against Deportivo La Coruna last Saturday. The crucial three points from that fixture has pulled Diego Simeone’s Atletico side to within just two points of league leaders Barcelona, tightening the title race significantly. In immediate post-match remarks, Alvarez issued a public apology to disgruntled Atletico supporters, acknowledging his summer comments were a misstep. “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,” the 51-goal Atletico forward told reporters, after earning a standing ovation from pockets of the home crowd following his decisive match contribution. The low-value administrative fine is far from the high-stakes penalty Atletico may have hoped for, leaving the cross-city La Liga title rivals to continue their on-pitch battle for the 2024/25 domestic crown.