Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid lose transfer ban appeals

 

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have lost appeals against Fifa bans on signing players in the next two transfer windows.

The clubs contested a decision by world football's governing body to punish them for breaching rules over the transfer of foreign players under 18.
"As such, both clubs are to serve a transfer ban that prevents them from registering any players at national and international level for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods," said a Fifa statement.
Atletico were fined 900,000 Swiss francs (£622,000), while Real were told to pay 360,000 (£249,000).
Fifa's statement added "both clubs have been issued with a reprimand and a warning and given 90 days in which to regularise the situation of all minor players concerned".
The next two transfer windows are January 2017 and July/August in the same year.
The investigation concerned players aged under 18 who played in competitions for Atletico between 2007 and 2014, and Real from 2005-2014.
Barcelona were given the same penalty in April 2014 for breaching rules on the transfer of under-18 players.
Their ban, which ended in January 2016, did not stop the La Liga side from signing players.
They bought Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal in 2015, though both players were prevented from playing until the January 2016 window opened.