Verdict on Real Madrid and Atletico’s transfer ban appeals expected this week; one might escape with just a large fine

It’s almost gone under the radar this summer but both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are set to hear if their appeals against a transfer ban have been successful this week according to Josep Pedrerol, the host of popular football talk show ‘El Chiringuito’, in Spain.

“This week, concretely Thursday, I can almost guarantee that we’ll know if there’s a (transfer) ban or not for both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.”

In amongst the transfer rumours various newspapers in Spain have speculated as to when the verdict would be made official. Some suggested it would be during the transfer window and any loan deals made before the verdict would be eligible to register with the affected clubs again and those done after such a ban was put in place would have to spend the duration of their respective team’s sanction elsewhere.

The verdict has already taken longer than expected

Now this process has already come under the spotlight for how long it’s taken to reach a verdict, some suggesting favouritism towards the Madrid clubs and one of them in particular. Barcelona were informed they’d violated Article 19 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players at the end of April, 2014. In August of the same year FIFA rejected their appeal, just four months later, and then Barcelona took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but were unsuccessful and on the 30th December the ban was upheld.

Most people assumed that with Barcelona being the pioneer case any future violations of the rule pertaining to the illegal signing of underage players would be dealt with quicker. However the appeal process for both Madrid clubs has already exceeded seven months and conveniently comes just as the summer transfer window has closed, allowing both sides time to prepare their squads in the worst case scenario that their bans are upheld.

I’m sure FIFA will point to the fact a new president, Gianni Infantino, has been appointed in the time since the appeal was lodged as well as a World Cup for reasons behind a delay in making the verdict. However, surely the same department was working on this as a priority issue? Considering the size of the clubs involved, as was the case with Barcelona previously, you’d have expected a verdict before the summer transfer window opened, not once it’d closed.

One side may escape with just a fine

Pedrerol also dropped another bombshell towards the end of his exclusive which, if it turns out to be true, could have huge ramifications for the entire process. “(The verdict) could also include only a fine for one of the two (teams).” Of course the last part sounds more speculation than fact but even then, it gives the impression one of the clubs is expecting to avoid a transfer ban. Atletico Madrid, when the charges was initially made, were handed the larger fine so it seems unlikely to be them who would avoid a ban.

Contrasting summer transfer business in Madrid

Real Madrid had, by their standards, another quiet transfer window. Usually the powerhouse of the European market their business was restricted to buying back Alvaro Morata from Juventus and thinning their squad when it came to those unlikely to feature in the first team picture.

For their part Atletico Madrid invested over €80m in new recruits, notably overhauling their forward line as Luciano Vietto was sold in order to bring in Kevin Gameiro from Sevilla. Nico Gaitan joined from Benfica in a deal worth around €25m while Sime Vrsaljko adds extra strength to the squad at right back.

Will these be the last deals done by the Madrid giants until January 2017? We should find out the answer this week.