February 17 – Barcelona, slapped with a transfer ban by FIFA for bringing in under-age players, appear to have found a way to get round the sanction by targeting players but not registering them before January 2016.
The 14-month ban covering two windows was imposed in April last year after the club were found guilty of breaking rules on the transfer of players aged under 18.
FIFA rejected Barcelona’s appeal in August, only for a subsequent appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to also fail.
Following that latest ruling, it was assumed the Catalan giants would not be allowed to make any new purchases this year.
But Spanish sports daily Mundo Deportivo reported at the weekend that Barcelona were interested in signing both Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata and Porto right-back Danilo for next season.
FIFA have now confimed to Sky that although it would go against the spirit of the ruling, there is nothing to stop the Catalans from talking to potential targets – or even purchasing them – this summer as long as any new recruits are not registered before the end of the sanction.
Such a move by Barca would prevent them getting left too far behind though it would mean any player signed would not be able to ply his trade until the transfer ban is over – a lengthy wait.
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