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Barcelona Set To Appeal €300 Fine For Tapping Up Antoine Griezmann

Barcelona Set To Appeal €300 Fine For Tapping Up Antoine Griezmann

The La Liga champions were fined for breaking the rules as they signed Griezmann from Atletico Madrid this summer.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Barcelona have been fined a ridiculously small €300 for breaching rules in signing Antoine Griezmann this summer but the La Liga side are still set to appeal the decision.

Atletico Madrid complained that Barca had started speaking to Griezmann before his transfer release clause dropped to €120 million and that the Spanish champions should have to pay the original €200 million claude.

On Thursday the Spanish football federation confirmed that the Catalan giants had been fined €300 for breaking the rules in their pursuit of the French forward but reportedly they will contest the measley fine.

In a statement the RFEF said, "This committee is aware that the payment of €300, beyond it's purely symbolic gesture, will not contribute to the club being punished in this case and probably other clubs that may be in this situation in the future, to fit their conduct within the required rules."

Atleti claimed that the two parties, Barca and the player, had started discussions before Griezmann announced on May 14th that he was going to leave the Spanish capital but the statement said, "It is important to highlight that the contacts between FC Barcelona occurred once the player had manifested his intention to leave Atletico Madrid."

Whilst the fine might be tiny, Barcelona are said to be considering the appeal because accepting it would be seen as accepting guilt.

Griezmann was originally expected to leave Atleti in summer 2018 but he decided to stay at the Wanda Metropolitano, meaning Barca had to wait a year to sign the former Real Sociedad player.

His release clause went down on July 1st and the La Liga champions announced his signature on July 12th, with the player signing a five year deal.

Griezmann celebrates scoring for Barca. Image: PA Images
Griezmann celebrates scoring for Barca. Image: PA Images

The 28-year-old has started the season with three goals and two assists in the opening six La Liga games but things haven't gone well for Ernesto Valverde's side, winning three of their opening six games.

Atleti have had a better start to the season with four wins, sitting three points above their title rivals in second place.

Joao Felix, who replaced Griezmann has two goals and one assist for Diego Simeone's side since signing from Benfica in the summer.

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Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Antoine Griezmann, Transfer news, Champions League, Spain, La Liga