MADRID/ZURICH: Real Madrid have said the club will contest, at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a transfer ban confirmed by world federation FIFA for a breach of regulations over the transfer of junior players writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Last January both European champions Real and neighbours Atletico de Madrid were banned from signing any new professional male players for two transfer windows.

This was similar to a similar imposed on Barcelona and from which the Spanish champions have just emerged.

The two Madrid clubs, who were fined SFr900,000 and SFr360,000 respectively and reprimanded, protested to the FIFA appeal committee.

This has now rejected and confirmed “in their entirety” the original punishments from FIFA disciplinary committee.

Regulations

FIFA said: “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 for breaching articles 5, 9, 19 and 19bis as well as annexes 2 and 3 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (the “Regulations”).

“The transfer ban applies to each club as a whole – with the exception of the women’s, futsal and beach soccer teams – and does not prevent the release of players.”

Real reacted within minutes of FIFA’s announcement by describind the verdict as “profoundly unfair and contrary to the most elementary principles of penal law.”

A statement added: “The club will make a corresponding appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.” It would also seek an expedited hearing.

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