Ban upheld but Barca can carry on splashing out
BARCELONA could yet embark on another spending spree before next month’s deadline despite having their appeal against a year-long transfer embargo upheld yesterday.
The Spanish club failed in a bid to overturn a ban on all player trading for two transfer windows, originally imposed in April by world governing body Fifa for breaking rules on signing minors.
But Barca will be allowed to keep £130m worth of talent recruited this summer, including former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, and continue making signings until the 1 September deadline.
Reports in Spain said the Catalan side was considering whether to try to rush through major deals for some of Europe’s most coveted players, including Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus, Fiorentina wide man Juan Cuadrado and Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke. Players could be bought and loaned back to their clubs for the season.
Barcelona announced they would appeal Fifa’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which could suspend the ban further, meaning it does not take effect in January but next summer, by which team it may have been overturned.
The club’s ability to sign players until the end of the current transfer window is likely to encourage cynics who claim they have successfully circumvented Fifa’s punishment.
Barca have completed six signings since the ban was first issued, and then postponed pending their appeal – Suarez, Valencia defender Jeremy Mathieu, Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen, Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic, Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Real Sociedad stopped Caludio Bravo – for an estimated £130m.
They have also sold Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea and Bojan Krkic to Stoke, recouping around £60m.
Fifa imposed the transfer embargo and a fine of around £300,000 after finding Barcelona had infringed rules governing the international transfer of under-18s.