FIFA bans Barcelona from transfer market for breaking rules on young players

Barcelona football club have been banned by FIFA from transferring players for over a year for breaking rules on signing young foreign players.

The Spanish champions were also fined 450,000 Swiss francs (370,000 euros).

The investigation by the world’s governing body found ten cases where “serious” infringement of the rules had taken place between 2009 and 2013.

International transfers of players under-18 are not allowed unless one of three qualifying criteria are met.

The Spanish Football Federation was also fined 500,000 Swiss francs (410,000 euros).