Barcelona handed 14 month transfer ban.

Spanish La Liga Champions FC Barcelona have been handed a 14 month transfer ban, which has been issued through FIFA.

The Catalan giants can’t buy, or sell players for the next two transfer windows, which is a major blow to their future plans.

Barcelona have also been fined  450,000 Swiss Francs (£305,000) by the world governing body. 

The ban itself relates to Under 18 youth team players that Barcelona signed between the years of 2009-2013. 

The club also broke the rules regarding the registration of players between this time period. 

Under 18’s can only move to a different country if their parents are from another nation within the European Union, or have moved for non-footballing reasons. 

The Fifa statement added: “The disciplinary committee emphasised that the protection of minors in the context of international transfers is an important social and legal issue that concerns all stakeholders in football.

“The committee highlighted that while international transfers might, in specific cases, be favourable to a young player’s sporting career, they are very likely to be contrary to the best interests of the player as a minor.

“Young football players are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in a foreign country without the proper controls. This particular fact makes the protection of minors in football by the sport’s governing bodies, especially by FIFA, even more important.”

The Spanish FA have also ben sanctioned within regards to also breaking the FIFA rules.

This possibly means that Barcelona can’t sign Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc Andre- Ter Stegan, who was viewed as a replacement for the departing Victor Valdes.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1