Barcelona Face Points Deduction and Transfer Ban in Álvarez Probe

FC Barcelona face a significant institutional headache after the Royal Spanish Football Federation opened an extraordinary disciplinary procedure against the Catalan club, following the complaint filed by Atlético de Madrid over alleged improper contact with Argentine forward Julián Álvarez. The RFEF’s Disciplinary Committee communicated the decision to both clubs and has appointed an instructor to oversee the case, as El Confidencial reported, citing EFE.

Álvarez holds a contract with Atlético de Madrid that runs until 2030, and the Madrid club filed its complaint on June 30, accusing the Blaugranes of negotiating with a player during the protected period – a window determined by the player’s age at the time of signing, which in Álvarez’s case had not yet elapsed. Barcelona sources confirmed to EFE that the club has received the formal notification and is awaiting the RFEF’s deadline for submitting written defenses.

The opening of a disciplinary file does not automatically result in sanctions, but it does initiate a formal process that could lead to serious consequences for both the club and the player. According to beIN Sports, the range of potential penalties for the Catalans includes financial fines, the partial or complete closure of club facilities for specified matches, a deduction of up to three LaLiga points, and – most critically for squad-building purposes – a ban on registering new players for one or more transfer windows.

The backdrop to the RFEF case stretches back several months. Barcelona’s pursuit of Álvarez became public in late May, when Atlético used their official channels to denounce what they described as a campaign of pressure and harassment directed at the player. According to El Confidencial, Barcelona sent an offer of €100 million payable in instalments to Atlético de Madrid in late May, and Atlético has communicated publicly and privately that the Argentine striker is not for sale, pointing to his €500 million release clause.

The dispute sharpened during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when Álvarez stated on June 22 that he believed a transfer represented the best decision for his future and that he had already communicated that wish to Atlético’s board. According to El Confidencial, Joan Laporta stated on July 19 that the club’s coach wanted Álvarez and that Barcelona had made an offer to Atlético, describing it as significant but not open-ended. Atlético’s chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, according to the same report, made clear that the club’s position remained firm and that Atlético did not wish to transfer the player’s rights.

For Álvarez personally, the disciplinary investigation also carries individual risk. Should the instructor determine that the player participated in violating federation regulations, he could face a suspension covering several official matches and, under RFEF rules, may also be required to compensate Atlético for the period during which his services could not be used as a result of that suspension. Atlético’s original complaint was filed simultaneously with FIFA, though disputes between clubs from the same national association fall primarily under RFEF jurisdiction.

The appointed instructor will now collect written submissions and supporting documentation from both clubs before proposing a resolution to the Disciplinary Committee, a process that can extend over several weeks. Barcelona has been formally notified and will have the opportunity to submit its defense, while Atlético de Madrid will continue pursuing the complaint. Should the RFEF ultimately determine that regulations were breached, the potential sporting consequences – including a possible registration ban – could have a significant impact on Barcelona’s squad planning.