Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid handed transfer bans

Spanish giants Real Madrid and their neighbours Atletico Madrid have both been banned from signing new players for the next two transfer windows.

They have been punished by world governing body Fifa for breaching rules over the transfer of minors.

The ban does not cover the current transfer window, which runs until the end of this month.

“The two clubs were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players,” said FIFA in a statement. Atletico were fined 900,000 Swiss francs and Real 360,000, FIFA added.

Real Madrid deny all charges and will appeal transfer ban
Atletico have also confirmed that they will appeal the ban, though both teams are free to continue signing players in the current January window.

“Our club is not in agreement with the sanction from international football’s governing body and will study all the documentation we’ve received to present an appeal against the sanction,” said an Atletico statement

Barcelona recently suffered a similar sanction and signed Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan in the summer, but were unable to register them until January 2016.

The next two transfer windows are July/August 2016 and January 2017.