Spain to pay FIFA reduced fine in Barcelona transfer case
ZURICH - FIFA says sport's highest court has cut the fine Spain's soccer federation must pay for breaking transfer rules when Barcelona signed youth players from abroad.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling comes 11 months after Barcelona lost its appeal against a one-year ban on registering new players. FIFA says the Spanish federation must pay 280,000 Swiss francs ($272,000) instead of 500,000 Swiss francs ($485,000).
Still, FIFA says CAS endorsed its ''efforts to protect underage players.'' FIFA ruled last year that the Spanish federation broke rules governing international transfers of minors by allowing Barcelona to sign 10 players from other countries.
The Spanish federation is led by Angel Maria Villar, a FIFA executive committee member who chairs its legal committee.
