Barca could avoid punishment over the 'Griezmann case'

Spanish publication 'Mundo Deportivo' reports that the Spanish giants are looking at ways to battle Atletico Madrid's complaint to FIFA head on, with the Catalans set to point to the way that Spanish transfers are conducted in order to protest their innocence.

The Catalan-based newspaper reports that Barca will argue that it has always been normal in Spain for clubs to talk to players first, as the player is able to pay his release clause at any moment and free himself from his contract.

Release clauses are mandatory in Spain, leading Barca to claim that it is only natural to speak to a player you are interested in to discover if he would be tempted by a move.

However, this approach goes against FIFA's rules, which prevent clubs from discussing moves with players unless they are in the last six months of their contracts. 

Be what may, it appears that the 'Griezmann case' could drag on for some time yet, though Barca believe that they may already have found their 'get out of jail free card'.