Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid "have failed in their appeals against FIFA's transfer ban," according to Ed Malyon of the London DAILY MIRROR. FIFA sanctioned both clubs over "irregularities in the signing of minors" in January -- the same offense for which Barcelona received its embargo. The pair both appealed against their "inappropriate" two-window bans but Real Madrid revealed that its appeal "had been unsuccessful." Real Madrid said in a statement, "We are disappointed in the decision on the grounds that is profoundly unfair and contrary to the most elementary principles of law. The club will make a corresponding appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting the ban be revoked, with full confidence of obtaining a favorable decision." Atlético was originally "slapped" with a €822,000 fine, while Real was originally "told to cough up" €328,000 but neither club "will now be able to sign players in January or next summer" (DAILY MIRROR, 9/8).
ATLÉTICO TO APPEAL: Atlético said in a statement, "Our club does not agree with the ruling, so it has decided to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS/CAS). Anticipating that FIFA could ratify this ban, the club hired months ago a team of international experts to defend the case and protect the rights of Atlético de Madrid. Our organization wishes to express that one hundred percent of the licenses of our players that are part of this investigation and are still in the club, have been regularised by FIFA" (Atlético Madrid).
