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Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid transfer bans suspended

January 30, 2016

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid got a lifeline from FIFA on Friday, getting their transfer bans suspended to be served later. That will open the door for the two Spanish giants to invest this summer.

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Fußball - Real Madrid CF - FC Barcelona - Clasico
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Soriano

FIFA has temporarily put transfer bans for Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on hold pending the outcome of their respective appeals, the clubs said in separate statements on Friday.

"Real Madrid C. F. has announced that the FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to provisionally suspend the sanction imposed on the club," Real Madrid announced on their website.

The two Spanish clubs, who are both chasing Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table, received transfer bans earlier in January for singing underaged players. The two Madrid clubs promptly appealed their respective suspensions, which would suspend each club from registering new players for two transfer windows.

Stockpiling before the market closes

The temporary suspension may allow both clubs to delay their transfer bans until after the upcoming summer transfer window in July. Barcelona were able to achieve the same delay, pushing their ban to commence in January, 2015 despite an unsuccessful appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport.

Barcelona's successful delay allowed them to sign seven players in the summer of 2014, including Uruguayan international Luis Suarez. Barcelona went on to win the European treble despite the transfer ban. Similarly, Real and Atletico will be able to sign and register players this summer if their appeals are not heard by the time the transfer market reopens on July 1.

dv/bw (AFP, Reuters)