By Chrysanthus Ikeh
According to Spanish reports, Real Madrid’s Sport director, Emilio Butragueno has confirmed the reports about the requirements from FIFA while the Spanish club is said to be calm over the ongoing situation which flared up after the £2.3m signing of 16-year old Norway midfielder, Martin Odegaard from Stromgodset.
Meanwhile, FIFA rules state 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.
If Real Madrid is found guilty of the crime they will join their rivals, Barcelona who were handed a transfer ban until 2016 after they were found guilty of breaching regulations of signing 10 players under the age of 18 in 2013.
