I don't want to see Real Madrid punished – Bartomeu

The Barcelona president has called on Fifa to change its ruling over the transfer of young players rather than issue more sanctions to clubs


Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says he does not want to see Real Madrid punished in the same way as his club over allegations of irregular dealings in the transfer market.

Fifa has requested the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) provide details of youngsters signed by Madrid and the collaboration agreements they have with other clubs.

The European champions are confident they will not face the same punishment as arch-rivals Barcelona, who were hit with a two-window transfer ban after being found guilty of irregularities in the signing of youngsters between 2009 and 2013.

Bartomeu has also claimed he does not wish to see Madrid sanctioned in the same way, instead calling upon Fifa to amend their regulations to prevent the problem happening again.

“Why we got singled out first and not others is a question for Fifa,” he told RAC 1. “It all came about over an anonymous complaint surrounding the player, [Seung-Woo] Lee. We don’t know who made this official complaint, they don’t want to supply this information. It’s a problem for Fifa, who need to change this article [19].

“The main reason for our sanction is Article 19 in the Fifa rulebook. The Spanish Football Federation and the Catalan football Federation are also co-responsible in giving us our license. In Catalonia, there are thousands of kids whose situation is irregular, we had five.

“All throughout the club’s history, we’ve suffered injustices, and this is just another one. It’s clear that there are other clubs involved. [Spanish FA president Angel Maria] Villar already told us that other clubs are implicated.

“I don’t want to see other clubs sanctioned, I want that Fifa re-configure their laws and that [Sepp] Blatter gives the matter some reflection. Each club has its own sporting policy. I’m not sure what Real Madrid’s is.”

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