Shocking: Barcelona Allowed To Sign Players This Summer After All As FIFA Temporarily Lift Transfer Ban

Chris Wright

23rd, April 2014

7 Comments

By Chris Wright

Soccer - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Barcelona v Manchester City - Nou Camp

Truly shocking news this morning that FIFA have temporarily overturned the heavy, two-window transfer ban they metered out to Barcelona earlier this month, meaning that the club will be able to buy players this summer after all, pending an appeal.

FIFA originally barred Barca from signing or selling players until the summer of 2015 as punishment for, in FIFA’s own words, “breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of U18 players” – though the Catalan side are now currently free to do as they please until their appeal is heard.

FIFA’s statement on the lifting of the ban:

“The chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee, Larry Mussenden, took into consideration the sanctions imposed against the club, the complexity of the matter, the start date of the next registration period – 1 July 2014 – and the fact that the FIFA Appeal Committee does not seem in a position to take a decision on the main issue early enough so that an eventual appeal of the club against its decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport would still be decided before the beginning of the next registration period.

“Consequently, the chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee considered that the appeal lodged by the club is to be granted suspensive effect.”

Well bugger us! Who’d have thunk, eh?

Posted in Barcelona, Newsnow, Transfers & Rumours

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7 Comments

  1. Chris says:

    They’re already eons ahead of the rest yet to ensure they stay miles ahead – fifa step in like the ‘ghost army in lord of rings’ to protect them from any chance of defeat.

    The rest of the la liga and europe may aswell just give up.

    Barca (just so you know) you dont need to do this, you’re good enough to win any cup off your own bat.

  2. Abe Froman says:

    I think its a pretty limp maneuver on the part of FIFA. This clearly demonstrates that FIFA only care about the money a strong Barcalona club can generate, rather than protecting the integrity of the game.

    Not that anyone would have doubted it before I stated the obvious

  3. EDub says:

    We saw this coming. Unfortunately, FIFA has so little credibility that the would probably never get away with enforcing this.

  4. Fnarf says:

    Next they’ll announce that the ban will apply for the next ten years except during the months of January, July or August. Hey, those FIFA guys have some very expensive house and private school payments to make.

  5. JuanosDios says:

    Come on now, the penalties were wildly out of proportion with the crime in the first place. A multiple window transfer ban for what really are minor infractions is just absurd. That’s a crippling penalty, and for what, poaching some academy kids that wanted to go to Barça anyway?

  6. Jarren says:

    Just like giving a convicted fraudster a 5 stretch then letting him out on good behaviour after 2 months

  7. dc says:

    JuanosDios, same page, my friend.

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