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According to suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter, both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were investigated for illegal transfer activity. The two La Liga clubs were looked into for the same violations that saw Barcelona get a one-year transfer ban which disallowed the Catalan club from registering new players in 2015.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, a Spanish daily newspaper, Blatter confirmed that the two clubs were investigated in separate cases. But he also said that he did not know the results of the investigation.
“FIFA’s disciplinary committee has opened separate proceedings on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid for the same infractions committed by FC Barcelona,” Blatter had said.
“They have been concluded, but I don’t know what the sanctions are because they are independent commissions and I’m suspended. I can’t even walk inside Fifa.
Blatter confirmed that since Barcelona were punished for violating FIFA regulations, even the two Madrid-based clubs would face similar sanctions.
“If Barcelona were sanctioned for breaking the FIFA regulations, and the two Madrid clubs have committed the same offences, then the normal thing would be to give them the same sentence,” Blatter explained.
“Maybe Barcelona made a mistake starting this war against FIFA. It would have been better to open a dialogue, a path that always works better in football.”
Why Barcelona were banned from registering players
Barcelona were not allowed to sign players for two transfer windows (January 2015 and the summer of 2015). The ban was enforced after illegal transfers of players under the age of 18.
Under-18 players can only be signed by clubs in another country if the player’s parents relocate to that country for reasons other than football. The players, aged between 16 and 18, also have to be from a country that belongs to the European Union or live within 100 kilometres of the club.
A number of players registered at Barcelona between 2009 and 2013 were investigated and the club were found guilty in the registration of 10 players. The club were also fined £305,570 and, according to a statement, given one year to “regularise its regulatory framework and existing system concerning the international transfer of minors in football”.
Barcelona eventually did sign Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal in 2015 but they couldn’t be registered and have therefore not played a single game since the start of the season. They will, however, be allowed to be registered in January 2016.
What if Real and Atletico Madrid receive bans?
Even if Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are handed transfer bans, the two clubs will be given the option to appeal. Barcelona had appealed but FIFA had rejected the appeal. The Catalan club then took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but they had also dismissed the appeal.
In the case of the two Madrid clubs, any ban would probably not be enforced in January 2016, allowing the two clubs to sign and register players till a possible ban comes into effect.
FIFA have said that no statement would be made until the two clubs in question are informed. The timing of the announcement will be critical in determining whether the two clubs will be allowed to make signings in the summer of 2017 or not.
