Real Madrid and Atletico Face Reported Transfer Ban: Latest Details and Comments

FIFA is ready to impose a transfer ban on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, according to reports. Like Barcelona, this links to the alleged illegal signing of underage players.

However, Real have denied the club is involved.

Continue for updates.

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Real Likely to Receive One-Window Punishment

Wednesday, May 6

Sport reports that Real are "likely" to be punished after handing over the club's relevant documents to FIFA's investigators. 

"According to some information, the penalty will only affect Madrid for the January transfer window in 2016 and will include a €300,000 fine," notes the aforementioned article.

This would allow Real to sign new players during the summer, but would mean no incoming business could be secured during the winter break.

Incidentally, it is unclear whether Atletico will be dealt with separately.

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Real, Atletico Set for Transfer Ban?

Wednesday, April 29

Jose Ramon de la Morena of radio station Cadena Ser (h/t Charles Ventura of FOX Sports) broke the news that might see a lack of new players head to the Spanish capital in the next year.

Marca reported both clubs "will be immediately banned from all transfer activity for the next two windows," meaning the upcoming summer and January 2016 markets would remain off limits.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

"After much deliberation, football's international body has reached the conclusion that both Madrilenian clubs are guilty of continually breaking the rules regarding the signing of underage players," reported Marca.

However, the Spanish FA has "no knowledge of Real Madrid being punished for irregularities in the signing of minors," according to a later report by Jose Felix Diaz of Marca. Even so, "a notice to this effect has been served concerning Atletico," according to the Spanish body, per Diaz.

Real provided a full statement:

"

In view of last night's reports, alluding to supposed legal sources, about a future sanction against Real Madrid for possible infractions in the signing of foreign minors, the club would like to state the following:

1. That said information is completely false, as demonstrated by the fact that the Spanish Football Federation has spoken to different media outlets to refute the claims that Real Madrid is implicated in any kind of irregular activity when it comes to signing minors.

2.- Real Madrid reiterates that the club has always scrupulously adhered to the FIFA regulations, as was explained in detail in the official announcement dated 26 January 2015.

3.-Real Madrid is once again saddened by these reports, some of which are intended to cause harm, the only aim of which are to implicate the club in supposed infractions that have not been committed.

4.- At the same time, it is surprising that certain media outlets insist on connecting the latest signings with a hypothetical sanction, as there is no relationship between the signing of players and their subsequent inscription, which is what FIFA prohibits.

5.- Real Madrid reiterates once again its absolute committment to the defence, protection and the correct and healthy development of minors, which take precedence over sporting interests and, as a consquence, confirms its total support of these FIFA regulations and the club's adherence to them.

"

Atletico claim to be "confident of having acted properly" in all deals to sign youngsters, per Marca.

Barcelona are currently working through this punishment after signing 10 underage players to the club's La Masia academy. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport failed to overturn the ruling, but the Blaugrana are free to begin signing players again in January.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

If this punishment extends to the Madrid sides, it will put an end to a number of high-profile rumours.

Real would no longer be able to pursue Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, nor would they be open to the (always unlikely) sale of Gareth Bale, as previously reported by Adam Crafton and Rob Shepherd of the MailOnline, respectively. Suggestions from Goal that Chelsea's Eden Hazard could join the club would be fruitless. 

Martin Odegaard is the most high-profile of a catalogue of young stars signed by Real in recent months. The 16-year-old has been called up to the senior squad for Wednesday's match with Almeria, as discussed by B/R UK's Ryan Bailey and Guillem Balague:

Atletico's bid to close the gap on the top two would be severely hampered if the ban arrives.

According to Mundo Deportivo (h/t the Daily Mail) Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani was previously linked with a move. Former favourite Filipe Luis has also been touted for a return after a disappointing season with Chelsea, per Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard. Such rumours would be confirmed non-stories if FIFA delivers another blow to the development of La Liga.

We face the real possibility of a summer transfer window in which Real, Atletico and Barca cannot improve their squads.