Yamal and the Youth Protection Act Spanish national team faces punishment from the Cologne district government
30.06.2024, 21:58
While Spain is fighting for a place in the European Championship quarter-finals against Germany, trouble is looming over the national team’s youngster: Because Lamine Yamal, at 16, falls under Germany’s youth protection law, he is not allowed to work after 11 p.m. Meanwhile, PSG wants to make him the most expensive player in the world.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is facing a fine from the Cologne district government. If Lamine Yamal continues to work after 11 p.m. in the European Championship round of 16 match against Georgia in Cologne this Sunday evening (kick-off 9 p.m.), he would be violating the German Youth Protection Act. According to this, it is not permissible to employ young people as athletes at sporting events later than 11 p.m.
“Whether violations of the regulations are punished is a matter for the respective responsible authority to decide at its own discretion,” the Cologne district government told SID. The authority cannot yet make a statement about punishment because “no such violations have occurred yet.” The fine framework provides for “a maximum fine of 30,000 euros,” the statement says. The case has already come into focus.
In the duel with surprise team Georgia, the top talent from FC Barcelona is once again in coach Luis de la Fuente’s starting lineup. Extra time would have gone beyond the set time limit in any case, but Spain won comfortably 4:1 (1:1). However, a possible penalty would hardly prevent an earlier substitution, because associated activities such as showering or interviews are no longer allowed that late. The game only ended at 10:51 p.m.
Will Yamal become the most expensive player in the world?
Before the match against Georgia, De la Fuente said that he did not believe that the youngest player in European Championship history would have to be substituted early. Lamine Yamal had already violated the Youth Protection Act for these reasons in the two preliminary round matches against Albania in Düsseldorf (1:0) and against Italy in Gelsenkirchen (1:0). Here too, it is still unclear whether penalties will follow.
Yamal has been causing a stir with his strong performances at the European Football Championship – and has apparently come under the radar of Paris St. Germain. According to the newspaper “Mundo Deportivo”, which has close ties to FC Barcelona, the French champions are said to be prepared to pay a transfer fee of 250 million euros. According to the report, however, the courting is futile, and the 16-year-old jewel is not for sale “under any circumstances”. Paris is looking for a successor to superstar Kylian Mbappé, who moved to Barca’s arch-rivals Real Madrid on a free transfer.
With the alleged 250 million euros offered, PSG would once again break the world record. In 2017, the Parisians also brought in star striker Neymar from Barcelona for 222 million; the Brazilian is the most expensive player in the world to date. Barça president Joan Laporta stated in March that he had already rejected a 200 million offer for Lamine Yamal; according to “Mundo Deportivo”, the offer also came from PSG. The youngster’s contract in Barcelona runs until 2026, and the release clause is one billion euros.
2024-06-30 19:58:00
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