Menu
Franchises

FIFA Investigating Real Madrid Over Possible Violations Of Youth Transfer Regulations

FIFA is investigating Real Madrid to determine whether the club has "followed the rules of Article 19 of the Regulations on the Transfer of Players, on the Protection of Minors," according to Joaquín Maroto of AS. The rules prohibit the transfer of players "under the age of 18, except in certain, determined, situations." AS "has had access to FIFA's documents initiating the investigation, classified as strictly confidential." FIFA has requested from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) "all the documentation relating to under-age players" who play for clubs with which Real Madrid has collaboration agreements. There are 22 such clubs "in the Madrid Autonomous Region alone." The agreements Real signs with its feeder clubs contain a clause stating that the feeder club in question "agrees to make available to Real Madrid all its football players, at every age, which Madrid can, as the club chooses, include in their own squads." In the letter to the RFEF initiating the investigation, dated Dec. 17, FIFA Head of Integrity & Compliance Kimberly Morris "asked for the information about the players to be provided" before Jan. 14. RFEF Secretary General Jorge Pérez "passed the request to the clubs 48 hours later." Real's lawyers have reportedly "examined the documents sent to Zurich." The investigation "coincides with a flurry of signings by Real Madrid," with Mink Peeters, Marco Asensio, Martin Odegaard and Lucas Silva joining the club in the past week. Barcelona was hit with a transfer ban by FIFA last April for "irregularities in the signing of underage players" from '09-13. The Barcelona case "came on the back of anonymous tip-offs." The current investigation into Real "also comes on the back of an anonymous tip-off" (AS, 1/26). To see the letter from FIFA, click here.

POSSIBLE SOURCE: In Madrid, Carlos Forjanes reported FIFA's investigation into Real Madrid's under-age signings "may have started in relation to the case of two Venezuelan youngsters," Manuel Godoy and Fernando Macías. Both came to Madrid "directly from the Latin American country, brought by Miguel Ángel Coira, ex-Argentinean footballer who lives in Spain and has a football school for youngsters in Madrid." Godoy signed for Real's Infantil B squad in '12 as a 12-year-old. At the end of '13 Real "began to suspect that his signing could lead to problems with FIFA" and took the decision to "temporarily suspend their relationship with him." Macías signed in the summer of '13 at the age of 14. He joined the Infantil A squad and the club "decided to terminate their relationship with him at the end of last season" (AS, 1/26). A FIFA spokesperson said, "FIFA is currently gathering all the relevant information and documentation in order to be in a position to properly assess the matter. No formal disciplinary proceedings have been opened at this stage. No further information can be provided for the time-being" (ESPN, 1/26).

REAL 'RELAXED': AS reported Real Dir of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueño "offered the club's version of events." He said, "First of all, we are in agreement with FIFA on this matter. We will continue to work with them in everything that they ask of us. We are absolutely relaxed about the procedure involving Real Madrid" (AS, 1/26). BLOOMBERG's Alex Duff reported a Real spokesperson said that the club has "acted within the rules and submitted all the documentation requested" by FIFA. Among members of Real Madrid's youth team are Takuhiro Nakai, an 11-year-old from Japan, and Paulo Lubamba, a 12-year-old Angolan, according to "squad profiles posted on the club website." Nakai arrived last year from Japan's Azul Siga and Lubamba joined in '13 from Chorrillo, a club on the outskirts of Madrid (BLOOMBERG, 1/26).

OTHERS UNDER INVESTIGATION: Maroto reported in a separate piece "it is not just Real Madrid" under investigation. FIFA is also investigating Atlético, as the club and its strategic alliance clubs "that have signed loan deal collaboration contracts have all received the letter" demanding documentation. As is the case with Real, the Atlético investigation is "confidential" and "came about as an anonymous tip-off." The deadline for the RFEF to submit all relevant information relating to Atlético and its 16 alliance clubs was Monday. FIFA is "also on the verge of opening investigations of other Spanish clubs" including La Liga sides Rayo Vallecano and Valencia (AS, 1/26).

IN BARCELONA: In Madrid, Moisés Llorens reported Barcelona VP Javier Faus was asked about FIFA's investigation into Real Madrid and said, "I don't know what [the reporter] is referring to with the inference of a 'black hand.' What we can say is that the complaint was anonymous, it continues to be anonymous and that these matters are not a coincidence" (AS, 1/26).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/01/27/Franchises/FIFA-Real.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/01/27/Franchises/FIFA-Real.aspx

CLOSE