Credit: Flickr user JuanEDC.com
FIFA released a statement this morning saying that FC Barcelona’s transfer ban will be temporarily suspended so the Catalan club can sign players this summer. The ban will be suspended while the case is being appealed which may take a significant amount of time. This means that Barcelona may eventually be banned for two transfer windows but not this summer because the case has not been completed.
The FIFA statement here:
"“The club FC Barcelona has lodged an appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee against the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee that sanctioned the club for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18.Together with the appeal, the club requested that its appeal be granted suspensive effect. In this respect, 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 — July 1, 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. In view of the foregoing, the chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee assures that proper and adequate appeal proceedings will take place and, at the same time, that all rights of the club will be respected.”"
Several players have been identified as major targets for Barcelona as they seek to rebuild their squad following a disappointing season by their lofty standards. They will look to strengthen their defense as well as find a new number one goalkeeper as Victor Valdes is in his last season with the Blaugrana. It will be interesting to see if Barcelona go on a spending spree in order to compensate for any future bans after their appeal is heard.
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