Wednesday, 20th August, 2014
Barcelona have failed in their appeal against a ban imposed by FIFA for breaching rules governing the signing of under-18 international players.
FIFA had hit the Catalan giants with a transfer ban and a fine, but Barcelona had the restrictions temporarily lifted while they appealed the decision, something which allowed them to sign Luis Suarez earlier this summer.
But the club's appeal has failed and they will now be banned from signing players from January 2015 until January 2016, two complete transfer periods.
Barcelona have also been slapped with a fine of 450,000 Swiss Francs, while they have been given a period of 90 days during which to "regularise the situation of all minor players concerned."
FIFA announced in a statement: "The FIFA Appeal Committee has decided to reject the appeals lodged by Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol (RFEF) and to confirm in their entirety the decisions rendered by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in the respective cases relating to the protection of minors."
relatedNewsStory
The Spanish FA have for their part been hit with a fine of 500,000 Swiss Francs, while they have one year to regularise their system regarding the international transfer of minors in football.
Barcelona may now look to bring forward spending which had been earmarked for the next 12 months, though they have also vowed to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, commenting via a statement: "FC Barcelona may not in any way share a resolution that is an affront to the spirit of our Masia, a world renowned example of academic, human and sporting education."
Don't bet on football until you've visited Inside Bet! Interesting markets, top tips, betting facts – get all the info before you bet.
