FIFA banned Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid on Thursday from signing players in the next two transfer windows for breaching rules relating to registering players under the age of 18.
The Spanish clubs can still sign players in the current transfer window but will be banned from making additions to their squads until after the 2016-17 season. The teams can reach agreements to buy players but cannot register them to play until then.
Atletico Madrid released a brief statement saying it will appeal FIFA’s sanction. Real Madrid had not officially commented about FIFA’s ban on Thursday.
Barcelona served a similar sanction for 2015 after stalling the transfer ban to enable them to sign players in the 2014 window.
FIFA said the latest wave of punishments — which include fines of 900,000 Swiss francs ($900,000) for Atletico and 360,000 Swiss francs ($360,000) for Real Madrid — highlight the success of efforts to protect the rights of players.
The players at the heart of Madrid cases featured in games between 2005 and 2014, according to FIFA.
“The two clubs were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players as well as other relevant provisions with regard to the registration and participation of certain players in competitions,” FIFA said in a statement.