By Andrew Warshaw
August 20 – Barcelona have been ordered not to make any more signings after this summer until January, 2016, following a decision by FIFA’s appeal committee to re-impose their double transfer window ban for allegedly hoarding under-age players.
The new development kicks in after the current window shuts but is nevertheless a massive blow for the Catalan club who have been spending like crazy after failing to win a single trophy last season, bringing in eight players in the last few weeks for a total of about €150 million, more than any other club in the world.
“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,” read a FIFA statement.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has also been told to pay a fine of €500,000 Swiss Francs (£340,000) and to “regularise its regulatory framework and existing system concerning the international transfer of minors in football” within a year.
Barca were originally handed a 14-month ban in April after being found to have breached rules in the case of 10 minors, fined CHF450,000 ($509,000) and given 90 days to “regularise the situation of all minor (under 18) players”.
The issue focuses on Barcelona allegedly buying up under-age talent which FIFA deems illegal under its rules concerning the transfer of minors. Players under 18 can only move country if they fulfil one of three specific criteria.
The original punishment was suspended after Barca appealed, allowing them to splash the cash on the likes of big-name players such as Luis Suarez and Thomas Vermaelen.
Barcelona say they will now take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), which has become the routine procedure for last-ditch appeals. In a statement, the club said it would “continue defending its interests before the highest sporting authority, in this case the Court of Arbitration for Sport”.
Referring to its famed Masia academy, which traditionally nurtures some of the world’s biggest stars, the statement added: “FC Barcelona may not in any way share a resolution that is an affront to the spirit of our [academy] Masia, a world renowned example of academic, human and sporting education.”
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