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Real, Atletico Madrid hit with FIFA transfer ban

Xinhua, January 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were both hit by a sanction from the governing body of world football, FIFA, for irregularities in their youth systems and will not be able to sign any new players either this summer or in January 2017.

The sanction is similar to that which was handed to FC Barcelona around 18 months ago, which Barca have just completed and related to the signing of foreign players below the age of 18.

In their communique, FIFA explained both Real and Atletico had "violated various dispositions related to the signing and registration of under-age foreign players," rules which Atletico infringed between 2007 and 2014 and Real Madrid broke between 2005-2014.

As well as the ban on new signings Atletico have been fined 821,000 euros (around 900,000 US dollars) and Real Madrid, 328,000 euros.

Both clubs are able to make signings until the end of January, although Atletico have already brought in new players Augusto Fernandez and Matias Kranevitter this month and significantly reduced the age of their squad by bringing in players such as Yannick Carrasco, Luciano Vietto, as well as 25-year-old defender Stefan Savic.

The ban could harm Real Madrid more as the club presided over by Florentino Perez has several key players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Pepe and Sergio Ramos who are over 30-years old, and a ban would scupper plans to sign a new 'galactico' such as Paul Pogba, Robert Levandowski or David de Gea, whose move to the club fell through at the last moment in August last year.

Meanwhile FIFA's decision is another problem for Perez after a difficult few months which saw the failure of the De Gea deal, the sacking of the popular Carlos Ancelotti, the failure and sacking of Rafael Benitez as coach and the club's expulsion from the King's Cup for fielding an ineligible player.

Atletico have announced they will appeal the sanction, but Real Madrid have yet to make an official comment, although in April 2015 the club did issue a communique last April insisting stories they were being investigated by FIFA were false. Endit