Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid Handed Two Window Transfer Ban

“Spanish football, through their clubs, supports the policy of protecting minors, and the concern for their development and for their training”, the league said in a statement in response to FIFA’s ban on Thursday.

The sanction was handed down by the governing body’s Disciplinary Committee as a outcome of breaches “relating to the global transfer and registration of players under the age of 18”, but Zidane finds it hard to understand FIFA’s verdict. The ban does not cover the current January transfer window.

The two Madrid giants were culpable of the same offence as their rival Barcelona and, after the current transfer window closes, can not sign new players until 2017.

A spokesman from the world football organisation defended their strict regulations after they banned Atletico and Real Madrid, stating that they are enforcing strict rules so clubs can not abuse the system as they have done so in the past.

A statement released on Atletico’s official website confirmed that they will also challenge FIFA’s ruling.

Atletico were also fined 900,000 Swiss francs (S$1.3 million), while Real were docked 360,000. However, with the ban being suspended while the appeals were ongoing, Barca were able to sign six players, including Luis Suarez, in the summer of 2014.

Real Madrid’s newly-appointed French coach Zinedine Zidane points his finger next to Gareth Bale (left) and Luka Modric during a team training session at the Valdebebas ground in Madrid on Friday. They can still sell players during the transfer ban.

The Spanish and European champions bought Arda Turan from Atletico and Aleix Vidal from Sevilla in July but they were unable to play until the turn of the year, although still allowed to train with their new team mates.

He’s been doing the rounds on Spanish radio, bigging up his insider credentials, and insisting he knows for a fact that several Premier League clubs are ALREADY being investigated for their dealings with players under the age of 18.

Atletico Madrid’s head coach Diego Simeone gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match betwee …