Real Madrid Reportedly at Risk of Barcelona-Like Transfer Ban in FIFA Probe

Real Madrid are reportedly in FIFA's "firing line" over a possible investigation into how the club sign minors.

Barcelona were recently handed a year-long transfer ban after failing to comply with FIFA's guidelines on signing under-18 players, as reported by BBC Sport. A report by Sport indicates Los Blancos are the next to face scrutiny from Sepp Blatter:

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The FIFA president has contacted around 20 clubs in the Madrid community, all of whom have a collaboration agreement with Madrid, to demand information about the signings of underage players they have made.

[...] Florentino Perez, the club's president, has been quick to contact the clubs and players involved to make sure they do not make any information official until they have had a conversation with Madrid.

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Although no confirmation has been provided, such speculation will worry Madrid supporters. This is a club who have an annual habit of signing world-class superstars—Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez in the last three summers—so losing business time across two transfer windows could impact the team's prospects.

This is particularly true when you consider the European champions are currently linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus, as reported by James Dickenson of the Express.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Barca's hierarchy has fallen apart since their transfer ban was confirmed, with Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta and his assistant, Carles Puyol, leaving the club, as noted by FCB's website. Despite signing Luis Suarez in the summer, the Catalan side cannot improve their lack of defensive options until Jan. 2016.

Sport suggests FIFA are "following" Madrid's every move, although it is somewhat unclear how serious such claims are at this point.