Atletico denounce Barca over 'tapping up' Griezmann

Atletico Madrid have denounced FC Barcelona to the governing body of world football, FIFA because of the "repeated contacts" the Catalan club has had with Atletico' s French international striker Antoine Griezmann.

Atletico allege the contacts "with the player and his representatives with the aim of signing him," could affect the result of the game when the two sides meet in the Liga Santander of if they are drawn to face each other in a later round of the King's Cup knockout competition.

The Madrid based side point out that Griezmann extended his contract with them until the end of June 2022 in the summer and that under FIFA regulations sides are not allowed to open talks with a player belonging to another club until the player enters the last six months of his contract unless they have first agreed terms with that player's club.

The fact is that this rule is often more an ideal than a reality and clubs probably break it on a regular basis when making signings.

However, in this case declarations by Barca's Director of Institutional Relations, Guillermo Amor on Spanish TV on Sunday night that the club had been in contact with Amor's representatives over a possible move to the Camp Nou Stadium, clearly angered Atletico, who are currently in second place behind Barca in the Liga Santander.