Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid expressed confidence in their actions regarding the recruitment of young players, following a report by Cadena Ser suggesting they might face heavy sanctions, including a potential two-window transfer ban, for alleged violations of international youth player transfer rules.
A report by Cadena Ser on Tuesday night indicated that both clubs could be sanctioned by Fifa, drawing comparisons to the punishment handed to Barcelona the previous year, which resulted in the club being unable to sign players in 2015.
However, sources from both clubs downplayed the likelihood of a ban. A Real Madrid source stated, "We are sure we won’t have any problems. We are relaxed." This sentiment was echoed by Atletico Madrid, with a spokesman saying, "At the moment these are just journalistic reports. Our position is that we handed in the documentation that Fifa asked for and we are relaxed because we have collaborated with Fifa in their investigation."
Real Madrid had previously addressed the issue in an official statement on January 26, emphasizing their commitment to adhering to the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players and expressing support for investigations into the matter. The statement highlighted the club’s diligence in providing required information to the relevant committee.
Atletico Madrid also pointed out that all necessary licenses for player transfers were processed and approved by the appropriate football federations, namely the Madrid Football Federation and the Spanish Football Federation. Unless official word is given, the club stated it would not comment further on the matter.
