Real Madrid's transfer ban reduced by Court of Arbitration for Sport

The Spanish club had initially been banned from signing players until January 2018, but Tuesday’s ruling means that they will now be able to resume transfer activity at the end of this season.

Real will still be banned from adding new players to the playing staff in the upcoming January transfer window.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has today informed Real Madrid C. F. of their decision by which they have partially upheld the appeal lodged by the club against the FIFA resolution which imposed a sanction forbidding the signing of players for two transfer windows, reducing said sanction to just one period, corresponding to the January 2017 transfer window," a statement released by Real Madrid said.

The statement added. "The club regrets that the CAS lacked the courage to revoke the ruling entirely."

The reigning Champions League and Club World Cup Champions are likely to now consider the option of following the lead of Barcelona, who signed players six months in advance during their recent transfer ban, with the new additions able to train with the club but not allowed to play.