Real Madrid appeal against FIFA transfer ban partially upheld

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has halved Real Madrid's two-window transfer ban on appeal after the Spanish giants were sanctioned by FIFA for signing under-age players from abroad earlier this year.

The reigning European champions and their fierce rivals Atletico Madrid were originally punished for multiple breaches of global football's rules on the transfer of under-18s in January and both failed in appeals to FIFA in September.