Real Madrid could be in line for a transfer ban very similar to that of rivals Barcelona after FIFA opened an investigation into the signing of two 12 year olds from Venezuela.
In 2012, the Bernabeu club brought Manuel Godoy and Fernando Macías to Spain from their native Venezuela in a deal involving an intermediary, Miguel Ángel Coira, who runs a football school in Madrid. Following Barcelona's much publicised ban for similar dealings, FIFA have decided to investigate whether Real circumvented rules which state that u-18 players from outside the EU (or the European Economic Area) can only move clubs if their parents have been forced to move for non-footballing reasons.
Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid legend and the club's head of PR , denied they had done anything wrong and said they were committed to working with FIFA to ensure the practice is stamped out.
Firstly, we agree with Fifa on the issue. We’ll continue to work with them in everything they ask of us. We are absolutely comfortable with Madrid’s behaviour.
Although the club seem to be bullish in their assertions that there is nothing untoward, Spanish newspaper AS say that, behind closed doors, there is quite a bit of worry that they could be hit with a ban similar to that of their Catalan rivals. The news comes during a week in which Real have already significantly strengthened for the future with the signings of 16 year old Norwegian Martin Odegaard and 21 year old Brazilian Lucas Silva.
