Spanish football clubs Real Madrid and neighbours Atletico Madrid could both be hit with FIFA bans, prohibiting them from making any signings this summer or in the January 2016 transfer window, according to reports.
Two Spanish radio stations ran a story that FIFA intends to prohibit both clubs from buying new players as a result of irregularities in signing young players for their youth systems, reports Xinhua.
FC Barcelona are currently serving a ban after FIFA considered the club had acted incorrectly in the case of nine youngsters. Barcelona were unable to sign anyone in January and will not be able to sign any players this summer.
Real Madrid seem to have been aware of the impending sanction and that could explain why the club has been active in the transfer market in recent months, spending 51 million euros in buying Lucas Silva from Sao Paulo, 16-year-old Martin Odegaard, Porto defender Danilio and 19-year-old Mallorca teenager Marco Asensio, in an attempt to avoid the worst effects of a suspension.
However, any theoretical ban would pose problems and would jeopardise the club's intention of signing Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea and other possible targets such as Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Veratti and as a result, delay the departure of fringe players such as Asier Illaramendi, Alvaro Arbeloa.
Without the prospect of signing new players, footballers such as Iker Casillas, Jese Rodriguez and Isco could find themselves staying when many believe they will look for an exit this summer.
Last January saw Real Madrid issue a communique in which the club insisted it has "scrupulously" complied with the rules.