Real have transfer ban reduced

Real Madrid have succeeded in having their ban on signing players reduced to one transfer window.

The Spanish club had been banned from signing players for two windows after they were found to have broken FIFA's rules on the international transfer and registration of players aged under 18.

The ban had been suspended during the appeals process and following the Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling, Real will be allowed to register new players in the summer.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has today informed Real Madrid CF of their decision by which they have partially upheld the appeal lodged by the club against the FIFA resolution which imposed a sanction forbidding the signing of players for two transfer windows, reducing said sanction to just one period, corresponding to the January 2017 transfer window," the statement from CAS read.

"The decision highlights the injustice of the original ban imposed by FIFA, although the club regrets that the CAS lacked the courage to revoke the ruling entirely.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has issued its decision in the arbitration between Real Madrid and FIFA.

"The Spanish club's appeal was partially accepted. Therefore, the decision of the FIFA Appeals Board (FIFA) is cancelled and replaced by this CAS decision in which the following elements have been modified: Real Madrid are prohibited from registering new players, both nationally and internationally, during a full transfer period (initially two periods); Real Madrid must pay a fine of CHF240,000 (initially CHF 360,000) (£225,000, initially £337,000).

"In summary, the sole arbitrator determined that certain offences alleged by FIFA could be confirmed, but not all.

"Given that the violations committed by Real Madrid were less serious and fewer than the FIFA judicial authorities had affirmed, the sole arbitrator found that the sanctions imposed on Real Madrid had to be reduced."

Although the Court of Arbitration for Sport has reduced their suspension to one transfer window, Real will not be allowed to register new players in January. They will, however, be able to make signings in the summer.

Reacting to the news, Real Madrid said: "The decision highlights the injustice of the original ban imposed by FIFA, although the club regrets that the CAS lacked the courage to revoke the ruling entirely."

eir Sport channels are available across the eir Vision, Sky and Vodafone TV platforms as well as on the eir Sport app. All 6 channels in the eir Sport pack are available for free if you are a residential eir broadband customer.