Real and Atletico find an unlikely ally in Barca chief Javier Bordas

Andy West 11:45 16/01/2016
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  • Transfer ban: Zidane's Real Madrid.

    Real Madrid have received support from an unlikely source as they come to terms with FIFA’s transfer ban. Madrid and near-neighbours Atletico have both been barred from registering new players after this transfer window until June 2017 after being found guilty of breaking regulations over the signing of under 18s from overseas.

    Both clubs can still sign players but they cannot play for Atleti or Madrid until next summer, with Barcelona the precedent as the Blaugrana bought Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal last summer while still under the same sanctions meaning the duo could only make their debuts this month once the ban had expired.

    Barca director Javier Bordas has spoken out in support of the Madrid clubs despite the age-old rivalry between Barca and Madrid.

    “The punishments handed to Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid remind me of how it felt when it happened to us. It’s a disproportionate punishment,” said Bordas.

    However, he accepted that the bans were inevitable and suggested other clubs will soon find themselves similarly implicated, adding: “We felt the punishment was disproportionate and incomprehensible when it happened to us.

    “Now that there is already a precedent set, it seems more normal. Now there’s a history, it seems logical that all who violate the rule are punished. Everyone else who broke the rules will have to pay the same penalty.”

    At the heart of the dispute is the issue of child-trafficking, with FIFA insisting that their regulations are in place to protect vulnerable minors from poor countries being exploited by agents who promise a new life overseas by offering often non-existent contracts with European football clubs.

    While acknowledging that problem, the clubs believe that cases should be judged on their individual merits and that they are offering life-changing opportunities to talented youngsters, who are now being denied the chance to transform their lives by joining elite clubs during their teenage years.

    Barca have fiercely argued that their world famous ‘La Masia’ youth system’s sporting and educational facilities give all their young players a strong foundation for future success in life, even if they don’t make the grade as professional footballers.

    And Bordas reiterated that argument as he added: “I don’t think it’s anyone’s fault. I think it’s a law which isn’t right. It’s designed to protect children, but it ends up hurting them. I believe that none of the three clubs have violated the spirit of the law, and while we may have breached its wording, the punishment is still too strong.”

    Madrid, meanwhile, have attempted to undermine the credibility of the punishment by revealing that among the young players investigated by FIFA were the sons of manager Zinedine Zidane.

    Midfielder Enzo Zidane, often known by his mother’s maiden name Fernandez, is a key member of the Madrid B team which Zidane senior coached until his recent elevation to the first team.

    It remains unclear 20 year-old Enzo or his three brothers were among the cases which led to FIFA’s punishment, but Madrid director general Jose Angel Sanchez believes the fact they were even investigated demonstrates the process is flawed.

    “The sanction is so absurd and leads to such erroneous statements, such as the sanction for the children of Zidane,” Sanchez said. “This club has a set of ethical values and the people in charge of that area have never violated them. It is completely untrue that we failed to comply with the requirements.”

    Madrid and Atletico are planning to appeal the ruling which, at the least, could suspend the punishment until next January allowing them to strengthen this summer. They have the support of the Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) who on Friday released a statement branding FIFA’s penalty “out of place” and “excessive”.

    The league said: “The conduct of Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid have been always in favour of the respect, the interest, and the training of the child. We believe that the penalty imposed is disproportionate, out of place and is an excessive punishment for both clubs based on their behaviour and the circumstances of each case.”

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