Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid barred from transfers
MADRID — FIFA banned Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on Thursday from signing players in the next two transfer windows for breaching rules when registering players under the age of 18.
The Spanish clubs can still sign players in the current transfer window, but then won’t be able to register anyone until after the 2016-17 season. The teams can reach agreements to buy players but cannot register them to play until then.
FIFA also issued reprimands to both clubs and gave them 90 days to regularize the situation of all minor players.
“The two clubs were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players as well as other relevant provisions with regard to the registration and participation of certain players in competitions,” FIFA said in a statement.
Both teams released statements saying they will appeal FIFA’s sanction.
“Our club does not agree with the sanctioning ruling from the international football body and is studying the documentation received to lodge an appeal,” Atletico Madrid said.
Real Madrid released a longer statement explaining why it believes FIFA’s ban was not justified.
The club said it never used foreign underage players without registering them with the Spanish soccer federation, as claimed by FIFA, nor signed them without complying with the required procedures established by the governing body. The club added that it has always informed the local federation about all the players on its youth academy, another alleged breach of regulations by the club, according to FIFA.
ENGLAND: As English football’s most successful teams, Manchester United and Liverpool are the mainstays around the summit of the league.
When the northwest rivals play on Sunday at Anfield it will be a meeting of mediocrity — by their standards.
For the first time in 35 years, the league could finish without either United or Liverpool — who have 38 titles between them — in the top four.
Finishing outside the top four would mean missing out on the Champions League next season.
With only one win in eight league matches, record 20-time champion United has dropped to sixth place, two points behind Tottenham in fourth. Liverpool is three points behind United in ninth after failing to achieve the uplift anticipated in the three months since hiring Juergen Klopp as manager.
“There has been a big improvement recently (in our mental strength) and that’s very important when you’re at a big club,” Liverpool defender Kolo Toure said. “You can’t ever give up. When you refuse to lose games, you often find yourself winning them.”
MLS: The Chicago Fire selected midfielder Jack Harrison out of Wake Forest with the first overall pick in the MLS Super Draft, then traded him shortly thereafter to New York City FC.
Harrison, a former Manchester United academy player from England was the ACC offensive player of the year last year as a freshman with the Demon Deacons, with eight goals and 11 assists. At 19 he was the youngest player in Thursday’s draft, which was held in Baltimore.
The Fire then traded Harrison to NYCFC for the fourth pick in the draft and selected Stanford’s Brandon Vincent, a left back who is currently in the U.S. national team’s January training camp.