ATLETICO MADRID WILL not be allowed to sign players until January 2018, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the club’s transfer ban for misdealings surrounding the signing of minors.
Madrid initially appealed the ruling, which was imposed when the club was banned from all transfer activity during the summer of 2016 and winter transfer window in 2017 for breaking laws relating to signing international players under the age of 16.
The financial penalty sanctioned against the club was reduced from 990,000 Swiss Francs to 550,000, however in a statement released following the ruling Madrid described the sanction as “unfair” and discriminative.
We consider that the decision to support the prohibition of registering players in a second period, corresponding to the summer of 2017, poses an unfair disadvantage and discriminatory treatment to our entity, since recently and in a similar case, the penalty was partially lifted, allowing to register players starting on July 1st. This ruling is unfair and causes an irreparable damage to our club.”
“We want to reiterate that we have been penalised despite strictly complying with the Spanish legislation, as we have always processed all our licenses with Madrid’s Football Federation, as the Sports Law indicates.
“We have full confidence in our current squad, with which we have won direct passage to the Champions League for the fifth year in a row and have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and the King’s Cup.
“The club has the commitment of the players and coaching staff to continue competing at the same level next season, despite this decision that is evidently detrimental to us. Together, team, club and supporters, we will continue to fight for our goals.”
Today’s ruling casts doubt into the future of forward Antoinne Grizemann during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The French winger has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United following three seasons playing under Diego Simeone where he has won the Spanish Super Cup and finished runners up to rivals Real Madrid in the 2015 Champions League final.
The player fuelled speculation about his depature this week when he said an exit from Madrid was possible, saying his chances at lining out at Old Trafford next season were “six out of 10″.
“I’m good in my club, my agents are talking to Atletico so we’ll see what happens,” he said speaking to TMC’s Le Quotidien programme.
“I’m going to make a decision this summer.
“As I said, I’m happy here, I’ve talked to my coach, Koke and Godin. It’s in the hands of the club president, we’ll see how things are going.”
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