Spanish giants, Real Madrid, and city rivals, Atletico Madrid, have been handed transfer bans by FIFA.
This follows an investigation into the clubs’ “breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18”.
A statement the world football governing body reads: “The two clubs were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players, as well as other relevant provisions with regard to the registration and participation of certain players in competitions.”
That means neither club will be allowed to bring in new players for the next two transfer windows – at the end of this season and in January 2017.
The ban does not cover the current January transfer window.
“The transfer ban, which does not affect the current registration [transfer] period at all, given that it opened before the decisions were notified, applies to each club as a whole – with the exception of the women’s, futsal and beach soccer teams – and does not prevent the release of players,” said FIFA.
Atletico were fined 900,000 Swiss francs (£622,000), while Real were told to pay 360,000 (£249,000).
Real Madrid have announced they will “appeal this decision of FIFA in all the sporting incidents, considering them absolutely inappropriate.”
The news will be a welcome development for another Spanish club, Barcelona, who were banned for a similar offence in 2014.
Their ban, which ended this month, did not stop the La Liga side from signing players.
They bought Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal in the summer of 2015, though both players were prevented from playing until the current window opened.
