Real Madrid’s transfer ban partially lifted

Real Madrid have had their appeal against their transfer ban partially overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), freeing them to sign players next summer, BBC reports.

The club have also had their fine reduced from £282,000 (N109million) to £188,000 (N73million)

Recall that Real Madrid and rival Atletico Madrid were banned by FIFA from signing players after breaching rules over the transfer of foreign players under the age of 18.

The ban meant both teams were unable to purchase players in either transfer window in 2017.

However, initial appeals from both clubs were rejected by FIFA, leaving Real Madrid to subsequently appeal to the CAS.

CAS subsequently reduced the ban against Los Blancos to one transfer window, which means Madrid can now begin registering new players from July 1, when the summer window reopens.

The club has released a statement to this regard.

The statement read: “The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) today announced to Real Madrid CF the award for partially estimating the appeal made by the club against the resolution of FIFA that imposed a penalty of prohibition of registration of players during two periods of signings, reducing it to one, the window corresponding to January 2017.

“This award highlights the unfairness of the penalty imposed by FIFA in its day, although the club regrets that the CAS has not had enough courage to repeal it entirely.”

The news comes as a delight to Real Madrid and her fans as CAS had never previously overturned a transfer ban from FIFA on the signing of under 18 players.