Reports: Real Madrid set to be handed two window transfer ban by FIFA

Real Madrid are in line for a year-long transfer embargo similar to what rivals Barcelona were dealt with last year

According to explosive reports on Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, a transfer ban similar to the one Barcelona have been serving, has been delayed by FIFA for rivals Real Madrid for over a year despite evidence of irregularities for reasons unknown. It is rumoured that the Madrid giants along with City rivals Atletico Madrid are in line for a two season transfer ban for transfer irregularities.

Barcelona were handed a two-window transfer ban by FIFA after its Disciplinary Committee had found the Catalan club guilty of violating article 19 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players after a year-long investigation. The club was also fined 333,000 pounds.

Article 19 is specifically concerned with the protection of minors and prohibits international transfers of players under the age of 18.

There have been unconfirmed reports that FIFA are on the verge of unleashing a similar punishment to fellow La Liga clubs Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. But curiously, reports have emerged accusing FIFA of delaying the awarding of the ban to Real Madrid despite having found them guilty of the infringement a considerable time ago.

FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee opened an investigation into other clubs, including Real Madrid, on the irregularities concerning the transfer of underage players after it punished Barcelona last year.

Delay gave Madrid time to prepare for ban: MD

MD said the governing body’s Disciplinary Committee made the decision to sanction Los Blancos over a year ago but showed “a total lack of transparency” when it was chased up by the newspaper.

The newspaper writes Madrid had the signings of over 50 players investigated and were found guilty of breaching Article 19 in the same manner as the Catalans.

However, a FIFA spokesperson told MD, “FIFA is not in a position to confirm such information”, while it added, “Please understand that judicial proceedings are confidential. Only the content of decisions which have already been notified can be made public” when the publication demanded a second answer.

It has been widely speculated that the delay in the announcement of the ban by FIFA will meant that the Madrid giants had a year including two transfer windows to plan and implement their future plans so as to better position themselves to face the ban.