Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid Handed Transfer Market Bans

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have been banned by FIFA from signing players in the next two transfer windows for breaching rules relating to signing players under the age of 18. (Real Madrid Deny Transfer Ban Reports) 

The Spanish clubs can still sign players in the current January transfer window with the ban starting from the July transfer window this year and finishing with the January transfer market in 2017. (FIFA puts Barcelona transfer ban on hold pending appeal)

Barcelona served a similar sanction in 2015 after stalling the transfer ban to enable them to sign players in the 2014 window.

FIFA said Atletico have also been fined USD 900,000 while Real Madrid were fined USD 360,000.