Zidane, Garay and the key names behind Real Madrid’s transfer ban

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Zidane, Garay and the key names behind Real Madrid’s transfer ban - Eight players are key to Fifa’s investigation that rocked Real Madrid with a 14-month transfer embargo on Thursday.

Madrid, along with rivals Atletico, are prevented from registered players for the next two transfer windows, although both clubs insist they will appeal the decision.

Fifa claims that Madrid have “violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of minor players” during a nine-year period between 2005 and 2014 concerning 39 players.

Zinedine Zidane’s four sons have been disclosed as being in the 39 players Fifa are investigating, but all have their registrations in order.

Enzo and Luca joined the club in 2004, one year before Fifa’s investigation timeline, while Theo moved in 2010 and Elyaz in 2013. Crucially, all four of Zidane’s sons moved to Madrid when the World Cup winner was already living in Spain and employed by Madrid.

Benja, the younger brother of Ezequiel who was at the Santiago Bernabeu for two seasons before joining Benfica in 2011, was signed by Madrid in 2010 but had already been living in Spain for four years.

For the remaining five players in question, Madrid have not yet disclosed their identities.

“One of the players wasn't signed up because he had no acceptable documentation,” said Madrid’s general director José Ángel Sánchez.

“Another player of the eight is one for which we have authorisation. And another one was denied his registration by the Players' Status Committee and was only having trials with Real Madrid.”

Two young players from Venezuela could potentially be included on Fifa’s 39-player list - Fernando Macías and Manuel Godoy.

Godoy has trained with Madrid’s youth team and had represented the club in friendly matches. His registration was sent to Fifa but it was denied because the player’s father did not have a valid Spanish work permit, but instead he showed a guarantee of his business in Venezuela. Madrid were unable to sign the player but their efforts to appeal the decision to TAS were scuppered when Fifa’s dismissal notification was delayed by the Spanish Football Association.

 Another player whose registration is believed to be under investigation is Takuhiro Nakai, nicknamed ‘Pipi’ but the midfielder joined the club when he was 10, and Fifa’s rule specifies that only those over 12 require an International Transfer Certificate.