CAS: Atlético imply Real Madrid received preferential treatment
After failing in their appeal against their transfer ban, Atlético Madrid said the verdict "poses an unfair disadvantage in comparable cases"Valencia vs Real Madrid live online: LaLiga
Atlético Madrid have hit out at the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to uphold their two-window transfer ban, strongly implying that city rivals Real Madrid have received preferential treatment from the body.
Atleti refer to "comparable cases" in CAS decision reaction
Both LaLiga clubs were handed the same punishment by FIFA in January 2016 over irregularities in the signing of international minors, but Real's suspension was later reduced to one window by the CAS.
While Atlético will not now be able to register any new players until January 2018, Real can make signings this summer having already served their shortened ban.
And in the wake of Thursday's verdict, Atleti took to Twitter to brand it "unjust" and claim that it "poses an unfair disadvantage in comparable cases".
Atlético also issued a statement on their website in which they similarly complained of "discriminatory treatment to our entity, since recently and in a similar case, the penalty was partially lifted, allowing to register players starting on July 1st."
Atlético Madrid's statement in full:
After the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal presented by Atlético de Madrid against the penalty imposed by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee on the case of registering players under age and that was ratified by FIFA’s Appeal Committee, reducing the financial penalty, but maintaining the prohibition of registering licenses in the next transfer market period, our club wishes to state the following:
1. We consider that the decision to support the prohibition of registering players in a second period, corresponding to the summer of 2017, poses an unfair disadvantage and discriminatory treatment to our entity, since recently and in a similar case, the penalty was partially lifted, allowing to register players starting on July 1st. This ruling is unfair and causes an irreparable damage to our club.
2. The resolution has been communicated after the time limit established in the agreement signed by the parts, which finished yesterday, May 31st, 2017. This shows a lack of respect for our institution.
3. We want to reiterate that we have been penalised despite strictly complying with the Spanish legislation, as we have always processed all our licenses with Madrid’s Football Federation, as the Sports Law indicates.
4. Our sports planning for next season has contemplated at all times the two scenarios that could arise once CAS announced their decision. From this moment on, the club will move forward in the negotiations necessary to formalise the operations to register players from the 1st of January, when we will be authorized by FIFA to register new licenses.
5. We have full confidence in our current squad, with which we have won direct passage to the Champions League for the fifth year in a row and have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and the King’s Cup. The club has the commitment of the players and coaching staff to continue competing at the same level next season, despite this decision that is evidently detrimental to us. Together, team, club and supporters, we will continue to fight for our goals.
