Barcelona have been fined €300 by the Spanish football federation for their actions in the signing of Atletico Madrid forward Antione Griezmann.
Atletico claims that Barcelona reached an agreement to sign the Frenchman when his release clause stood at €200m (£178m/$221m).
Griezmann ended up completing a €120 million (£107m/$134m) move to Camp Nou on July 12, with his buy-out clause reduced at the start of the same month.
Barcelona have been sanctioned by the Spanish football federation on Thursday, with the club now due to pay a €300 fine for a breach of rules.
In their report, the RFEF acknowledge that “given the economic capacity of the club” the fine is – “merely symbolic…and will not damage the sanctioned club nor probably deter other clubs in the same situation in the future”…
But conclude “this is not a sufficient reason” to opt for the other possible sanction, the closing of Camp Nou for a match, which they say should be used for infringements of “another nature”…
Barca are guilty of “initiating and maintaining negotiations with the player without prior written notice to Atletico”.
But, “has not been demonstrated the contract between the player and Barcelona was formally signed”.
Adds that Griezmann holds “no disciplinary responsibility”.
