' Barcelona hit with 14 month transfer embargo '

Messi to Cardiff not happening anytime soon

Wednesday 02nd April 2014.

Spanish champions Barcelona have been given a 14-month transfer ban by Fifa for breaking rules on signing international players under 18.

The Catalan club cannot buy or sell players until the summer of 2015 after the world governing body imposed a transfer ban for the next two windows.

They have also been fined 450,000 Swiss Francs (£305,000).

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has been sanctioned by Fifa for the same breaches.

The RFEF has been given a fine of 500,000 Swiss Francs (£340,000) and told to "regularise its regulatory framework and existing system concerning the international transfer of minors in football" within a year.

Fifa rules state that international transfers are only permitted for players over the age of 18 - unless the player in question meets one of three qualifying criteria.

A Fifa investigation found that Barcelona and the RFEF were guilty of a "serious" infringement of the rules in relation to 10 players.

The investigation centred on several players aged under 18 who were registered and played for the club between 2009 and 2013.

Fifa's disciplinary committee said it sought to protect the best interests of young players, even if an international transfer might be beneficial to their football careers.

"On the basis of this analysis, the committee concluded that 'the interest in protecting the appropriate and healthy development of a minor as a whole must prevail over purely sporting interests'," said a Fifa statement.

Can't even sell players?

I must have missed that part on earlier reports. Can't see how FIFA can enforce that bit if a player insists on moving.

Thank god for that I was worried they were going to sign Medel, Campbell and Eikrem off us.

Can't even sell players?

I must have missed that part on earlier reports. Can't see how FIFA can enforce that bit if a player insists on moving.

That's penalising the players as well as the club if they want to move to another club, which doesn't seem right. Might be a case for the players under European Law and freedom of movement for work?

Neymar shouldn't be allowed to play.

They've ruined football for me. I'd like to see an investigation into match fixing as well, that ref in the El Clasico was dodgy as f**k

about time fifa started coming down on the big boys. glad to see it, usually a suspended one and a paltry fine so about time.

Does this mean Swansealona will be hit with the same sanctions, as they THINK they are on the same level (historic financial cheats and all that)

thank f**k for that! now they cant try get marshall to replace valdes

Oh my, they are going to have to try everything to keep Valdes now. Pinto is over the hill and they need someone good from their B side otherwise they are in deep trouble.

They also going to lose Puyol so if either Mascherano and Pique get injured, they are in trouble there as well. I think Song maybe able to play there though.

Oh my, they are going to have to try everything to keep Valdes now. Pinto is over the hill and they need someone good from their B side otherwise they are in deep trouble.

They also going to lose Puyol so if either Mascherano and Pique get injured, they are in trouble there as well. I think Song maybe able to play there though.

How does the B side officially work though?

Do they have to put transfer paperwork through even if it is a formality?

If they do then that route's blocked off too.