The Catalonian club was banned by Fifa in April for breaching transfer laws and regulations, regarding the protection of minors and the registration of minors attending football academies. The Spanish club reacted furiously to this decision and decided to notch up an appeal in the court. However, the Court of Arbitration (CAS) dismissed their transfer ban appeal. Now, Barcelona will not be able to sign any player in the two transfer seasons of the year 2015.

Court of Arbitration released the following statement about their decision to uphold the ban:

“The panel found in particular that FC Barcelona had breached the rules regarding the protection of minors and the registration of minors attending football academies.Accordingly, the Fifa decision is confirmed in full and the sanction remains in force.

“In view of the need to issue a decision before the opening of the next transfer window, the panel has issued its decision without the grounds. The full arbitral award, with the reasons for the panel’s decision, will be issued as soon as possible.”

However, Barcelona reacted furiously to the court’s decision. The Catalonian club stated:

“The errors that the club might have committed, and which have been recognised and argued before the corresponding authorities, are, in all cases, of an administrative nature and to a large extent have been caused by the existing conflict between the Fifa regulations and Spanish legislation, along with the club’s conviction that it was acting correctly.

“Therefore, FC Barcelona considers the sanction to be completely disproportionate as it supposes an excessive punishment for the club, when considering its trajectory and the circumstances of this specific case.”