Real Madrid face Fifa investigation into 51 youth transfers

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno unveiled 16-year-old signing Martin Odegaard on Thursday

Fifa is investigating Real Madrid's youth transfer policy and has asked the club for information on 51 players.

Club director Emilio Butragueno confirmed Fifa had asked the Spanish Federation for documents relating to transfers over the last five years.

Butragueno said the club was "absolutely calm" about its behaviour.

Fifa handed Barcelona a transfer ban until 2016 after they breached regulations when signing 10 players under the age of 18 in 2013.

In a statement, Real Madrid said the majority of the 51 players that world football's governing body had asked for information on were exempt from regulations for various reasons.

that international transfers are only permitted for players who are over the age of 18 - unless the player in question meets one of three qualifying criteria.

Under-18s can move to a club in a different country if:

  • their parents move there for non-footballing reasons;
  • if they are from another nation within the European Union or European Economic Area and aged between 16 and 18;
  • or if they live within 100km of the club.

Real claim 10 of the 51 players were Spanish nationals, while 23 foreign players had already been registered with a Spanish club.

On Thursday, Real completed the 拢2.3m signing of 16-year-old Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard from Stromgodset.

Barcelona are not allowed to sign any players in 2015 after their appeal against their transfer ban was dismissed in December.