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Barcelona gets $329 fine for Griezmann tampering

Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann of Barcelona during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Camp Nou on September 24, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

NurPhoto via Getty Images

BARCELONA, Spain -- The Spanish soccer federation has given Barcelona what amounts to a token fine of $329 for negotiating with Antoine Griezmann while he was still under contract with Atletico Madrid.

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Barcelona paid the France forward’s buyout clause of $131 million this summer, but Atletico made a complaint to the federation saying negotiations with Griezmann had started before that and without the club’s consent.

Atletico wanted Barcelona to pay $218 million, which was the initial buyout clause for Griezmann before it dropped to $131 million in July.

The federation also said Thursday that Griezmann was not at fault.

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Spanish media said Barcelona would appeal because it claimed there was no evidence of any irregularity.

Griezmann has scored three goals in seven matches since joining Barcelona. He played five seasons with Atletico.