Court of Arbitration for Sport temporarily lifts ban on Real Madrid

Real Madrid have won a small victory in their dispute with FIFA over the illegal signing of under-age foreigners after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) temporarily lifted its ban on appeal.

The decision means eight players, including French coach Zinedine Zidane’s sons Theo and Elyaz, can play for their respective youth teams until the appeal decision is made.

‘The Court of Arbitration for Sport has granted the precautionary measures that Real Madrid appealed for following the sanction issued by FIFA,’ said a statement issued by the European champions on Friday.

The CAS, sport’s highest tribunal, has never overturned a transfer ban from soccer’s ruling body FIFA on the signing of minors.

FIFA has not disclosed the names of the 39 players originally investigated but Real director general Jose Angel Sanchez said they included Zidane’s four sons.

Written by David Kugonza