Blow For Atletico As Court Of Arbitration For Sports Upholds Transfer Ban

In what could be described as a major blow, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, on Thursday, upheld a transfer ban on Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

Atletico which saw their appeal rejected, will be unable to make any signings until January 2018.

Atletico were handed a two-transfer-window ban along with city rivals Real Madrid due to breaking the regulations of signing players under the age of 18.

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The both Madrid based sides were also hit with a £622,000 fine, however, CAS reduced Real’s suspension by a year, but decided not to rule in a similar style on Atletico.

Thursday’s ruling could also possibly affect a potential move away from Atletico for Manchester United target Antoine Griezmann, who has been a subject of interest to Old Trafford this season.

The club in a statement said they have been ill-treated and feel CAS has shown no respect to them.

An Atletico statement read: “After the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal presented by Atletico Madrid against the penalty imposed by FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee on the case of registering players under age and that was ratified by FIFA’s Appeal Committee, reducing the financial penalty, but maintaining the prohibition of registering licenses in the next transfer market period, our club wishes to state the following:

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“We consider that the decision to support the prohibition of registering players in a second period, corresponding to the summer of 2017, supposes a comparative 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 1. This ruling is unfair and causes an irreparable damage to our club.

“The resolution has been communicated after the time limit established in the agreement signed by the parts, which finished yesterday, May 31, 2017. This shows a lack of respect for our institution.

“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.

“Our sports planning for next season has contemplated at all times the two scenarios that could arise once CAS announced their decision. From this moment on, the club will move forward in the negotiations necessary to formalise the operations to register players from January 1, when we will be authorised by FIFA to register new licenses.

“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.

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“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.”

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