The FIFA Appeal Committee today confirmed they had rejected the appeals by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18.

“Both clubs are to serve a transfer ban that prevents them from registering any players at national and international level for the next two complete and consecutive registration periods.”

Therefore, neither or the Madrid clubs will be able to sign any new players until January 2018.

“Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid have been fined CHF 900,000 (€822,000) and CHF 360,000 (€329,000) respectively”.

Will Real Madrid now be regretting making only one purchase this summer? – the €30m re-acquisition of former academy player Alvaro Morata.

The transfer ban also makes the sale of Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann hugely unlikely as Diego Simeone would be unable to bring in a replacement until 2018.