Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid Handed Transfer Bans By FIFA

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is happy with his squad and the club has not discussed possible reinforcements despite Fifa’s decision to ban them from the next two transfer windows, he said today. In addition to the transfer sanctions Atletico has been fined 900,000 Swiss Francs and Real Madrid 360,000 Swiss Francs.

A similar punishment was imposed on Barcelona in April 2014, although the various appeals meant it did not apply to the Catalan club until the windows in January 2015 and the following off-season.

The sanction also does not prevent the clubs from selling players during the two transfer windows in which they are not allowed to register players.

“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.

“This club has never worked with the family to uproot underage players”, said Real Madrid director general Jose Angel Sanchez according to AS.

“With regards to players older than 12 years of age and younger than 18, [Madrid] has always complied with FIFA regulations requesting that the RFEF process (as they did) the corresponding authorisation from the FIFA Players’ Status Committee”.

The Spanish league has spoken out in defence of local clubs and their tradition of protecting under-age players, calling FIFA’s sanctions “disproportionate”.

However, Cerezo is confident the club will not suffer any major repercussions as a result of the punishment, while insisting he is determined to prove the current La Liga leader’s innocence.

The Blancos were found to have violated regulations in eight cases involving players in the club’s youth teams, including two sons of the former Real Madrid and French national team superstar.

It may be famed for signing the world’s best footballers but there could be no more potential “Galacticos” arriving at Real Madrid until July 2017.

Real, with new coach Zidane just over a week into the job, are unlikely to offload players but could use their considerable financial muscle to bolster their ranks.

“The provisions relating to the protection of minors need to be strictly applied”, Federation Internationale de Football Association said.