FIFA Opens Investigation into Real Madrid’s Youth Transfers — A Barcelona Tip-Off?
Could Real Madrid be the next Spanish giant hit with a transfer ban?
According to reports from AS, FIFA has opened an investigation into Real Madrid regarding the recruitment of two Venezuelan minors — Manuel Godoy (14 years old, signed in 2012) and Fernando Macias (15 years old, signed in 2013). The concern lies in whether Real Madrid violated FIFA regulations surrounding the transfer of underage foreign players.
What’s the rule?
FIFA only allows international transfers of players under 18 in specific cases — one of which includes parents relocating to the new country for non-football-related professional reasons. If this condition wasn’t met for either player, Real Madrid could face disciplinary action, including a ban on signing new players, similar to the punishment handed to Barcelona in 2014.
A Barça tip-off?
Interestingly, AS suggests that FC Barcelona themselves may have tipped off FIFA. Following their own two-window transfer ban for similar offenses, the Blaugrana reportedly alerted world football’s governing body about Real Madrid’s youth recruitment practices — potentially in a bid to ensure parity in how the rules are applied.
What now?
FIFA has requested that the Spanish Football Federation turn over all documentation related to the two players and others in Real’s youth setup. If violations are confirmed, sanctions could follow.
Stay tuned: this could become one of the biggest transfer-related sagas in Spanish football since Barcelona’s sanction.
