Barcelona transfer ban upheld

A FIFA committee has upheld a transfer ban imposed on Barcelona, meaning that the club will be unable to bring in any new players during the next two transfer windows.

The ban, imposed because the Catalan club had broken rules involving the international transfer of minors, had been suspended since April after Barcelona launched an appeal.

Following the ruling, Barça at once stated that they will be launching a second appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

If their case to CAS also proves unsuccessful, FIFA’s ruling will mean that Camp Nou will see no new arrivals between next September and January 2016.

A statement issued by FIFA read: “FC Barcelona is to serve a transfer ban which will see the club prevented from registering any players at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods, starting with the next registration period (January 2015).

“Barcelona has also been ordered to pay a fine of €370,000 Swiss francs (£296,000) and been given a period of 90 days from today in which to regularise the situation of all minor players concerned.”

Barcelona wasted no time in taking advantage of the temporary suspension of the ban during the summer, signing among others ex-Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.

Barcelona will still be able to expand their squad from now until the current transfer window comes to a close.