REAL MADRID AND ATLETICO GIVEN TRANSFER BANS

The two Spanish giants have been found guilty
of the same irregularities as Barcelona and,
after the current window closes, will then be
unable to sign new players until 2017
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have been
handed transfer bans for the next two transfer
windows for breaching rules regarding players
under the age of 18, Fifa have confirmed.
The two clubs will be able to register players
during the current January transfer window but
will then be unable to make signings for the
two subsequent transfer windows due to
irregularities over the "international transfers of
minors".
Barcelona were handed the same punishment
for a similar breach, with their ban lifted this
month, and neither of the Madrid-based clubs
will be able to make another signing until the
summer of 2017.
Real have been linked with a host of elite
players, such as David de Gea and Eden
Hazard, but will need to act now or wait 18
months in order to sign them.
A statement released by Fifa on Thursday
confirmed the sanctions: "The Fifa Disciplinary
Committee has sanctioned Spanish clubs
Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid for
breaches relating to the international transfer
and registration of players under the age of 18.
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"The two clubs were found to have violated
several provisions concerning the international
transfer and first registration of minor players
as well as other relevant provisions with regard
to the registration and participation of certain
players in competitions.
"Both clubs are to serve a transfer ban that
prevents them from registering any players at
national and international level for the next two
complete and consecutive registration periods
for breaching articles 5, 9, 19 and 19bis as
well as annexes 2 and 3 of the Regulations on
the Status and Transfer of Players (the
"Regulations").
"The transfer ban, which does not affect the
current registration period at all, given that it
opened before the decisions were notified,
applies to each club as a whole – with the
exception of the women’s, futsal and beach
soccer teams – and does not prevent the
release of players.
"Additionally, Atletico de Madrid and Real
Madrid have been fined CHF 900,000 and CHF
360,000 respectively, while both clubs have
been issued with a reprimand and given 90
days in which to regularise the situation of all
minor players concerned."
The ruling, which is likely to be appealed by
both clubs, means Madrid and Atletico face a
race against time to strengthen their squads
before it is imposed.
Atletico have already snapped up Augusto
Fernandez from Celta Vigo in this window while
Matias Kranevitter is now available to coach
Diego Simeone after a loan spell at River Plate
expired.
Madrid are yet to enter the transfer market,
with new coach Zinedine Zidane still assessing
his squad after succeeding Rafael Benitez last
week.