FIFA ban Barcelona from signing players for two consecutive transfer windows

Barcelona have already been a subject of too many transfer-related controversies.

Barcelona have been given a transfer ban by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for the next two transfer windows after they were found guilty of breaching transfer regulation rules, according to FIFA.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned the Real Federacion Espanola de Futbol (RFEF) and Spanish club FC Barcelona for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18,” read the official FIFA report.

“The investigations concerned several minor players who were registered and participated in competitions with the club over various periods between 2009 and 2013.”

Barcelona won’t be able to add any new players to their squad for all of next season at both national and international level. Along with the ban, they have also been fined and have to pay a sum of £306,000 (450,000 Swiss francs).

The Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF) has also been found guilty over their youth recruitment policy, and has been given a fine of 500,000 Swiss Francs (£340,000). They have also been asked to regularise their policy concerning the signing of transfers of young players within a year according to BBC.

This is not the first time a club has gone through a transfer embargo as English Premier League side Chelsea were banned from signing players in September 2009 for two years after their controversial signing of French Gael Kakuta from Lens. Although the ban was dropped after both the parties came into a financial arrangement with Chelsea agreeing to pay Lens £3million.

FIFA has banned Barcelona from signing any players for next 2 transfer windows for breaches relating to signing of players under 18

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) April 2, 2014

Court of Arbitration for Sport could halt Barca’s 2-window transfer ban during any appeal. Would allow them to strengthen in summer at least

— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) April 2, 2014