After FIFA announced sanctions that will prevent Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid from registering players in the next two transfer windows, effectively a transfer ban, Real Madrid have released a statement on their official website stating that they will appeal. The club was also fined CHF 360,000 (approximately €330,000).
The two clubs were guilty of flouting FIFA rules when signing underage players, i.e players who were yet to turn 18. They were also guilty of registering and playing the respective players in competitions that are run by the Spanish Football Federation.
“Real Madrid C. F. has today received the decision from the FIFA disciplinary committee, dated 23th July 2015, sanctioning the club with a transfer ban that prevents them from registering any players for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods as well as a fining the club 360,000 Swiss francs.”
The capital club from La Liga issued the statement with three points they set out to defend themselves against.
On playing unregistered U-18 players
With respect to playing foreign U-18 players without registering with the Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol (RFEF), Real Madrid were adamant that all their players in the youth teams at the club were registered with the RFEF and also certified by the country’s football federation.
The club said that it had proof of correspondence between the RFEF and FIFA which was dated 17 April 2015.
On signing and registering international U-18 players from foreign clubs
On Madrid’s part, they break down the argument into two parts. For players between the age of 12 and 18, they claim they have always “complied with FIFA regulations” and requested the RFEF to process any “authorisation from the FIFA Players’ Status Committee”.
For youth players below the age of 12, Real Madrid claim a separate process similar to those of Spanish underage players was not needed. This was allegedly ratified by FIFA to the RFEF and they have the fax and e-mails dated between March and April 2014 to prove their claims.
On not informing the RFEF that players in youth teams are equivalent to academy players
Los Blancos claim they “always notified the RFEF the players who are registered in these teams” and also have the documents to prove it (fated April 2015).
As a result, Real Madrid C. F. will appeal this decision of FIFA in all the sporting incidents, considering them absolutely inappropriate.
“As a result, Real Madrid C. F. will appeal this decision of FIFA in all the sporting incidents, considering them absolutely inappropriate.”
While the ban is in place, Real Madrid can still do business in this transfer window, after which they can only sign a player in the summer of 2017 as the ban will be in place during the 2016 summer transfer window and the 2017 January transfer window.