Want Backheel Breakfast in your inbox? Sign up for the email version here.
Real Madrid has transfer ban partially rescinded and Barcelona is mad
Real Madrid wants to know why the entire ban wasn’t rescinded. Barcelona wants to know why Madrid got off the hook at all.
Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Real Madrid’s appeal of their transfer ban has gone well, though not as well as hoped. The club will only be banned from making transfers this winter, and has had their ban for this summer’s window rescinded. Madrid’s transfer ban was imposed for violating FIFA rules by signing non-European Union players under the age of 18, and they argued the rules were unclear.
In their statement, Madrid said “the club regrets that the CAS lacked the courage to revoke the ruling entirely.” But having their ban revoked at all has Barcelona annoyed. The Catalan club served a two-window transfer ban for violating the same rules, and their president is wondering why Madrid got different treatment.
“This legal uncertainty must stop,” said Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu, “and I doubt that all of the player’s agents were wrong at the same time.” Congratulations to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for making everyone equally mad.
Goal of the day
Porto’s Danilo smacked the heck out of this shot. (r/soccer)
In the news
Alex Morgan is joining Lyon. She plans to return to the Orlando Pride in June. (The Mane Land)
St. Louis is a favorite to win an MLS expansion team. Missouri’s incoming governor says stadium deals with public money are “welfare for rich people.” Uh oh! (ESPN FC)
Meanwhile, Tennessee government seems willing to help Nashville get a team. (MLS)
Expecting Gigi Buffon to retire after the 2018 World Cup? Well ... maybe not. (FourFourTwo)
Jonjo Shelvey has been suspended five games for racial abuse. (BBC)
If you’re in the United States, you can catch Manchester United in person this summer. (Guardian)
Liverpool’s Joel Matip and other Cameroon players could be in trouble with FIFA for refusing an Africa Cup of Nations call-up. (Liverpool Offside)
You should be reading
Will Magee on the endlessly stupid debate about what “world class” means. (Vice)
Stephen Tudor on what it’s like to run social media for an EPL club. (The Set Pieces)
Sid Lowe on Villarreal improving by taking a relaxed attitude. (Guardian)
What happened on Monday
Liverpool wore down Everton and won in stoppage time. (Liverpool Offside)
What to watch on Tuesday (click for listings, all times ET)
Bundesliga: 4 games (from 2 p.m.) -- Christian Pulisic and Dortmund are on TV in America.
See More:
