FIFA has taken note of the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case involving club Atlético de Madrid, who was sanctioned by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18, as well as of other relevant provisions regarding the registration and participation of certain players in organised football.

CAS has partially confirmed the decision rendered by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which saw the club Atlético de Madrid sanctioned with a transfer ban preventing the club from registering any players at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods. The ban will apply to the next registration period (summer 2017) considering that the club Atlético de Madrid has already served part of said ban over the past registration period (i.e. January 2017). Furthermore, the club Atlético de Madrid has been given a period of 90 days in which to regularise the situation of all minor players concerned.

CAS has solely amended the fine that the club Atlético de Madrid was ordered to pay to a total amount of CHF 550,000.

With this decision, FIFA considers that CAS has shown once again clear and strong support for FIFA’s efforts to protect underage players.

The protection of minors is one of the key pillars of FIFA. Art 2 a) of the FIFA Statutes underlines that one of the objectives of FIFA is to improve the game of football constantly and promote it globally in the light of its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values, particularly through youth and development programmes. As a result, FIFA has put in place a clear regulatory framework that enables it to ensure the protection of minors.

For further information concerning the protection of minors, please read the FAQ document.