BREAKING: Details Of Real Madrid's Transfer Ban Changed

The big news today is that the transfer ban that was imposed on Real Madrid has been altered and reduced.

FIFA had previously set a punishment whereby Real would not be able to sign players for two transfer windows.

This was in relation to Real breaching FIFA rules in the way they signed foreign players who were under the age of 18 - the same thing Barca were pulled up on.

However, as per the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Los Blancos will only be prevented from signing players in the upcoming January window and will therefore have the ability to sign players as normal when the summer window rolls around.

Real appealed the initial sanction given to them and now their punishment has been halved.

The Club World Cup winners have also had their fine reduced from 360,000 Swiss francs (£282,000) to 240,000 (£188,000).

A statement on the official Real Madrid website read:

"The decision highlights the injustice of the original ban imposed by FIFA, although the club regrets that the CAS lacked the courage to revoke the ruling entirely."

Atletico Madrid were hit with the same punishment in terms of a transfer embargo but were handed a fine of 900,000 Swiss francs.

We await the results of their appeal.

More to follow.

Josh Lawless

Josh is a writer who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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