Real Madrid reject "completely false" transfer ban reports
Real Madrid have made an official announcement to deny reports they will be hit with a transfer ban by FIFA.
Spanish radio show El Larguero reported late on Tuesday night that FIFA were to hit the European champions with a Barcelona-like transfer ban for after an investigation into the signing of young players. Atletico Madrid were also implicated in the investigations.
Reports have snowballed since the report but Madrid have been quick to pour cold water over them.
On Wednesday afternoon they released a statement to deny the report, saying it is "completely false" and that the RFEF's refuting of the claims has been ignored.
The statement said that Madrid as a club have "always scrupulously adhered to the FIFA regulations" and that they offer "total support of the FIFA regulations" on the signing of young players.
Here is the statement in full:
"In view of last night's reports, alluding to supposed legal sources, about a future sanction against Real Madrid for possible infractions in the signing of foreign minors, the club would like to state the following:
"1. That said information is completely false, as demonstrated by the fact that the Spanish Football Federation has spoken to different media outlets to refute the claims that Real Madrid is implicated in any kind of irregular activity when it comes to signing minors.
"2.- Real Madrid reiterates that the club has always scrupulously adhered to the FIFA regulations, as was explained in detail in the official announcement dated 26 January 2015.
"3.-Real Madrid is once again saddened by these reports, some of which are intended to cause harm, the only aim of which are to implicate the club in supposed infractions that have not been committed.
"4.- At the same time, it is surprising that certain media outlets insist on connecting the latest signings with a hypothetical sanction, as there is no relationship between the signing of players and their subsequent inscription, which is what FIFA prohibits.
"5.- Real Madrid reiterates once again its absolute committment to the defence, protection and the correct and healthy development of minors, which take precedence over sporting interests and, as a consquence, confirms its total support of these FIFA regulations and the club's adherence to them."