Real Madrid are being investigated for their signing of underage players

Real Madrid could be in hot water after FIFA have begun an investigation into the manner in which the Champions League holders sign young players.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, FIFA are looking at whether Real have been conducting their business in accordance with Article 19 of the Regulations on the Transfer of Players regarding the Protection of Minors. Football's governing body are looking into whether the Spanish footballing giants have been illegally  signing underage players.

FIFA investigating Madrid over under-age signings. http://t.co/AXffGz6i2f pic.twitter.com/G0lkwnihkS — AS English (@English_AS) January 26, 2015

According to Joaquin Maroto's article: "In the letter, dated 17 December, sent to the Spanish Federation, Kimberly Morris, Head of Integrity and Compliance at FIFA, asked for the information about the players to be provided before 14 January. Jorge Pérez, the Federation’s secretary general, passed the request to the clubs 48 hours later. According to sources consulted by this newspaper, Madrid’s lawyers have examined the documents sent to Zurich." The news comes hot on the heels of Real Madrid's recent transfer activity in which they've signed the 16-year-old pair of Martin Odegaard and Mink Peeters but it is believed that the investigation is in relation to Los Blancos' signing of two 12-year-old Venezuelans, Manuel Godoy and Fernando Macias, in 2012. If Madrid are found guilty of behaving illegally in the market, they could be hit with a transfer ban similar to that which rivals Barcelona are currently serving. Barcelona are unable to sign any players until January 2016 due to irregularities in their signing of young players between 2009 and 2013. A Madrid ban would be music to the ears of Manchester United fans who fear that David de Gea could be set to swap Old Trafford for the Bernabeu.