Spanish national team faces fine from Cologne district government
During Spain's EM quarter-final match against Germany, trouble looms for the Spanish national team due to one of its youngsters: Lamine Yamal, who turns 16 this year, falls under the German Youth Protection Law, which means he cannot work after 11 p.m. However, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) intends to make him the most expensive player in the world.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) faces a fine from the Cologne District Administration. If Lamine Yamal participates in the EM round of 16 against Georgia in Cologne on this Sunday evening (kick-off 9 p.m.), and continues working after 11 p.m., he would be violating the German Youth Protection Law. Therefore, it is not permissible to engage minors as athletes in sports events after 11 p.m.
The Cologne District Administration told the SID that it is up to the respective authority to decide on enforcement actions. The authority could not make any statements regarding enforcement yet, as "no such violations have occurred." The fine framework states "a maximum fine of 30,000 Euros."
Will Yamal become the most expensive player in the world?
De la Fuente stated before the game against Georgia that he did not believe he had to substitute the youngest player in EM history prematurely. In the two group stage matches against Albania in Düsseldorf (1:0) and against Italy in Gelsenkirchen (1:0), Lamine Yamal violated the Youth Protection Law for the same reasons. It is still unclear whether penalties will follow.
Yamal has been making headlines at the European Football Championship with impressive performances - and has apparently caught the attention of Paris St. Germain. According to the Catalan sports newspaper "Mundo Deportivo," the French champion is ready to pay a transfer fee of 250 million Euros. The report states that the courting is futile, as the 16-year-old prodigy is "under no circumstances" for sale. Paris is looking for a successor for superstar Kylian Mbappé, who has left Barcelona's arch-rival Real Madrid as a free agent.
With the allegedly offered 250 million Euros, PSG would once again break the world record. In 2017, the Parisians had signed the star striker Neymar from Barcelona for 222 million Euros, making him the most expensive player in the world at the time. Barcelona president Joan Laporta had announced in March that he had already rejected a 200-million-Euro offer for Lamine Yamal, according to "Mundo Deportivo," which also came from PSG. The contract of the youngster in Barcelona runs until 2026, and the buyout clause is set at one billion Euros.
Despite the German Youth Protection Law restricting Lamine Yamal's participation in Spain's EM match against Georgia in Cologne due to his age, the European Football Championship 2024 in Germany might still provide opportunities for him. Reports suggest that Paris Saint-Germain, aiming to find a successor for Kylian Mbappé, is eager to pay a transfer fee of 250 million Euros for the 16-year-old prodigy, even though he's "under no circumstances" for sale, according to "Mundo Deportivo."
