Spanish soccer star faces fine from Cologne district government
During Spain's EM quarter-final match against Germany, trouble looms for the national team due to the youngster: Lamine Yamal, who is only 16 years old, falls under the German Youth Protection Law and cannot work after 23 hours. Meanwhile, PSG aims 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 attends to his work after 23 hours in the EM round of 16 against Georgia in Cologne on this Sunday evening (kick-off 9 pm), he would be violating the German Youth Protection Law. It is not permissible to engage minors as athletes in sports events after 23 hours.
"It is up to the respective authority to decide whether violations will be punished," the Cologne District Administration informed the SID. No statement could be made regarding punishment yet, as "no such violations have occurred yet." The fine regulation provides for a maximum fine of 30,000 Euros.
Will Yamal become the most expensive player in the world?
De la Fuente stated before the match 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 had violated the Youth Protection Law for these reasons. It is still unclear whether penalties will follow.
Yamal has been causing a stir at the European Football Championship with impressive performances - and has apparently attracted the attention of Paris St. Germain. According to the Barcelona-affiliated 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 talent is "under no circumstances" for sale. Paris is looking for a successor for superstar Kylian Mbappé, who has moved to 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 striker star Neymar from Barcelona for 222 million Euros, who is the most expensive player in the world to date. 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," the offer came from PSG. The contract of the youngster in Barcelona runs until 2026, the release clause is one billion Euros.
The European Football Championship 2024 might face issues if the Spanish Football Federation continues to ignore the Youth Protection Law, as the Cologne District Administration has issued a fine regulation with a maximum fine of 30,000 Euros. Despite attracting interest from big clubs like Paris St. Germain, who are willing to pay 250 million Euros, Lamine Yamal, the youngest player in EM history, is strictly under contract with Barcelona until 2026, with a release clause of one billion Euros.
