The earth shakes under Spanish football

In December, the ground shook under FC Barcelona and the world’s most well-known talent factory, La Masia. Now an earthquake is underway in Spanish football. FIFA is investigating Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, Valencia CF and Rayo Vallecano for buying minors in breach of FIFA’s ‘Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players’ that clearly state that children under the age of 18 cannot change clubs across continents.

“FIFA is currently gathering all the relevant information and documentation in order to be in a position to properly assess the matter. No formal disciplinary proceedings have been opened at this stage. No further information can be provided for the time-being,” says a spokesperson in FIFA who prefers to be anonymous to Sport Executive.

In Real Madrid, director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, confirms that FIFA has asked for information about 51 under-age footballers –  all signed by the club during the past five years. According to Butragueno the club is ‘absolutely calm’ about its actions.

“We will continue to work with FIFA in every aspect they ask of us. We are absolutely relaxed about the procedure involving Real Madrid,” says Butragueno.

‘Los Blancos’ have also released an official statement denying any wrongdoing – although the club bought the Japanese player Takuhiro Nakai from Tokyo in 2013. He now plays for Real Madrid’s U-12 team.

Atletico de Madrid, Valencia CF and Rayo Vallecano have so far made no comments regarding the cases.

Going on for years

The trade of minors has been going on for years in European football and has grown into a business of significant size – with mainly southern European clubs and anonymous capital funds in tax havens involved. The enormous profits have over the years led to a hunt for increasingly younger football talents in order to achieve sporting success in an increasingly sharp competition – and to minimize costs and maximise profit.

This is why FIFA and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, in December found FC Barcelona to be in breach of Article 19 of ‘FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players’ – and why FIFA is now investigating Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, Valencia CF and Rayo Vallecano for buying minors.

The cases have also led FIFA to lower the age limit required for international transfer certificates from 12 to 10 years, taking effect on 1. March 2015, in a move to close the loopholes in the net designed to restrain top football’s trafficking of under-age players.

Unrest in Spain

But in Spain, the explanation of the rules and the enforcement of them are hard to understand. In FC Barcelona, president Josep Maria Bartomeu calls for a change of the rules:

“It’s a problem for FIFA who need to change this article (Article 19 of ‘FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players’, Ed.). I want that FIFA re-configure their laws and that Blatter gives the matter some reflection,” he says to Catalan radio RAC 1.

“Why we got singled out first and not others is a question for FIFA. It all came about an anonymous complaint surrounding the player, Lee. We don’t know who made this official complaint, they don’t want to supply this information. But it’s clear that there are other clubs involved,” says Josep Maria Bartomeu and states:

“I don’t want to see other clubs sanctioned.”

FC Barcelona is sanctioned with a transfer ban at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods, together with a fine of CHF 450.000. Additionally, the club has been given a period of 90 days in which to regularize the situation of all minor players concerned.

Now Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, Valencia CF and Rayo Vallecano may look forward to a similar punishment.