Premier League clubs including Manchester United and Chelsea may be forced to alter their transfer plans after Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid were banned by Fifa from registering new players in the next two windows, a decision that could have significant ramifications in England.
Fifa said both Madrid clubs had breached its rules on the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18, with Atlético fined 900,000 Swiss francs (€825,000) and Real 360,000 (€477,000).
More importantly, it means neither club is able to register a new player before the summer of 2017. The suspension does not come into effect until after the current January window.
Real and Atlético have said they will appeal but the ruling could mean that moves to bring Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo to the Premier League in the summer are scuppered. United have been linked with both and a potential transfer to the Bernabéu for the goalkeeper David de Gea – a deal that fell through last summer because the paperwork was not completed in time – could also be affected.
Neither Madrid club would be prevented from selling players under the ban but if they cannot register new signings then the likelihood of star names departing is drastically reduced.
Permanent
Chelsea's Eden Hazard has been linked to Real and his club-mate Diego Costa with a return to Atlético, whose French forward Antoine Griezmann has been under consideration at Stamford Bridge. Atlético's coach, Diego Simeone, is expected to move to the Premier League at some point, with Chelsea seeking a permanent manager once Guus Hiddink departs in the summer.
Atlético’s and Real’s promised appeals could lead to their bans being delayed, meaning they may be able buy and register players in the summer if a legal process is ongoing.
Real denied any wrongdoing and described Fifa’s ruling as “absolutely inappropriate”. Atlético’s president, Enrique Cerezo, told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that the verdict was “a great injustice”.
An Atlético statement read: “Our club is not in agreement with the sanction from international football’s governing body and will study all the documentation we’ve received to present an appeal against the sanction.”
Fifa’s statement read: “The two clubs were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players, as well as other relevant provisions with regard to the registration and participation of certain players in competitions.
Amateur
“Fifa works hard to protect the rights of players under the age of 18 – whether male or female, amateur or professional. This is done through the enforcement of regulations prohibiting the international transfer of minors or the first registration of minors in a country other than their own.”
Barcelona were given a similar sanction by the world governing body in April 2014 and still embarked on a hugely successful period under Luis Enrique.
The club appealed to Fifa and the court of arbitration for sport and, although both were rejected, the legal process allowed their punishment to be postponed.
The Fifa suspension would not stop the Madrid teams from buying players but they would not be registered at the club. Barcelona bought Aleix Vidal and the Turkey international Arda Turan in the summer of 2015 but they did not make their debuts until this month, not being registered until January 4th.
The announcement could mean that Real and Atlético embark on a flurry of transfer activity in the coming weeks, stockpiling talent before the end of the January window.
Zinedine Zidane replaced Rafa Benítez as Real manager this month and, although the squad’s strength in depth was improved last year, his early time in charge now appears more complex. Guardian Service
