FIFA BANS | REAL MADRID | ATLÉTICO
FIFA puts Real and Atlético transfer embargoes on hold
If its Appeal Committee does not find against the Madrid clubs before 1 July, they will be able to register players in this summer's transfer window.
FIFA has agreed to put Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid’s transfer embargoes on hold while it examines their appeals against the bans, which were handed to the clubs earlier in January for irregularities relating to the signing of minors.
The ruling means that the underage players investigated by world football’s governing body will be able to play until its Appeal Committee reaches a verdict, and if it does not find against the outfits before 1 July they will be able to register new recruits in this summer’s window.
“FIFA’s Appeal Committee grants us the probationary suspension of the sanction pending the outcome of the appeal,” Atlético announced on their official Twitter account on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, Real also confirmed the news via a short statement published on their club website: "Real Madrid C. F. has announced that the FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to provisionally suspend the sanction imposed on the club."
When the 2014 ban meted out to Barcelona was suspended by FIFA that April, the summer window was approaching and one of the reasons given for the move by the Appeal Committee was the “start date of the next registration period”. With the Committee then taking until August to opt to uphold the punishment, the embargo was pushed back to the following two transfer markets.
In the case of Madrid and Atlético, the Committee could deliver its resolution before the end of June.
If in doing so it chose to reject their appeals, the summer 2016 and January 2017 sanctions would be maintained as originally announced – unless the Madrid pair go on to take their cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which (as it did with Barça) would be likely to grant a renewed interim suspension.