Real Madrid could face a transfer ban, similar to the one imposed on Barcelona, after Fifa opened an investigation into the deals involving under-age players, according to reports in Spain by AS.
The investigation is centred on the signing of two 12-year-olds, Manuel Godoy and Fernando Macías, brought from Venezuela in 2012 via Miguel Ángel Coira, an ex-Argentinean footballer who now resides in Spain and has a football school for young players in Madrid.
The club have since terminated their relationship with Godoy as well as with Coira, who is now with Rayo Vallecano. Both were being scouted by other clubs at the time.
Fifa are investigating whether or not Real have complied with their regulations regarding the transfer of those under the age of 18. The rule states that players can only be signed from outside the European Union if their parents have been forced to move to the country where the club is for non-football reasons, unless the club has made them available for transfer.
Emilio Butragueño, Madrid’s director of institutional relations, backed Fifa’s determination to tackle the issue but denied suggestions Madrid could be handed a similar punishment. He told AS: “Firstly, we agree with Fifa on the issue. We’ll continue to work with them in everything they ask of us. We are absolutely comfortable with Madrid’s behaviour.”
Madrid, who have signed Lucas Silva as well as teenage prodigy Martin Odegaard during the January transfer window, were contacted on 14 December about this and were given a month to respond.
