FIFA, another ally for Florentino's Real Madrid

FIFA, another ally for Florentino's Real Madrid

Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, has found an unexpected ally in his attempts to minimise the consequences of the FIFA sanction which was imposed for irregularities in the signing of minors.

The FIFA appeals committee, which has to resolve the recourse presented by 'Los Blancos' at the end of January, has taken more time than expected to make a decision. 

Thanks to this delay, the Real Madrid board have been allowed a large intake of oxygen to strengthen their squad in this summer's transfer window, which opened officially on July 1.

FIFA withheld the punishment of prohibiting the club from incorporating players for two transfer windows, until after the appeals process was completed. Atletico Madrid are in the same situation as their city rivals.

However, five months have now passed since the appeal was submitted and no definitive resolution has yet been released. It is a circumstance which feeds the suspicion that Real Madrid receive favourable treatment from the governing body of world football.

One only has to compare the timescales with those afforded to FC Barcelona. FIFA needed less than four months to reject the Catalan club's appeal, made in April 2014. The appeals committee ratified the punishment imposed on August 20 of that year.

Barça were punished for the same issue as both Madrid clubs, and received confirmation of their transfer embargo in far quicker time. Pure chance?

As Real Madrid have not yet had their appeal resolved, the sanction can not apply to them this summer, and will apply to the following two transfer windows instead, once confirmed.