Real Madrid could face a transfer ban, similar to the one imposed on Barcelona, after FIFA opened an investigation into the deals involving under-age players.
According to reports in Spain by AS, the investigation is centred on the signing of two 12-year-olds, Manuel Godoy and Fernando Macías, brought from Venezuela in 2012 via Miguel Ángel Coira, a former Argentinean footballer who lives in Spain and has a football school for young players in Madrid.
Emilio Butragueño, Real’s director of institutional relations, backed Fifa’s determination to tackle the issue but denied suggestions they could be handed a similar punishment. He told AS: “First, 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 Real Madrid’s behavior.”