Fifa Probes Real Madrid Over Transfer of Minors

Fifa is currently investigating Real Madrid over a possible breach of young players’ transfer rules according to reports in Spain.

Spanish news tabloid AS reported on Tuesday that officials of world football’s governing body are in the process of finding out if the La Liga giants have contravened article 19 of its regulations on the transfer of players.

The Fifa’s youth transfer policy prohibits that players under the age of 18 enters into contractual agreement except in certain predetermined situations.

AS claim they are privy to contents of some confidential documents on the investigation, which it said had been initiated following an anonymous tip off.

Cases of Venezuelan youngster Manuel Godoy and Fernando Macias, who were brought to Madrid by Angel Coira, an Argentinean ex-footballer who runs a football academy for young players in Madrid, have reportedly triggered Fifa’s investigation.

Fifa Has Asked Real Madrid to Provide Information on 51 Players as it Tries to Determine if the Club Have Breached Youth Transfer Policy. Image: Getty.
Fifa Has Asked Real Madrid to Provide Information on 51 Players as it Tries to Determine if the Club Have Breached Youth Transfer Policy. Image: Getty.

The newspaper said that the Spanish Football Federation were ordered by Fifa to verify all documentation as regards to underage players at clubs with which Real have had dealings.

It said 22 such clubs existed in the Madrid Autonomous Region, with the possibility of more such arrangements being in place with overseas clubs.

It continued that Real had agreed with feeder clubs on a clause that all their players, in every age group, must be available to the European champions’ squad. The feeders clubs also agree to provide the players’ registration documents and ensure they are registered in the name of Real Madrid.

The Spanish federation were handed a January 14 ultimatum to make available the aforementioned information on Real agreements with feeder clubs.

The Fifa request was passed to clubs involved within 48 hours, and lawyers for the Bernebeu club had examined the documents that were sent back to Fifa, AS added.

Another Spanish side Barcelona were hit with a transfer ban by Fifa for signing teenage minors between 2009 and 2013. The Catalans, as a consequence, cannot sign any player until January 1, 2016 after their appeal against the sanction failed.

Real competed the transfer of 16-year-old Martin Odegaard on Thursday from Norwegian club Stromgodset.