FIFA rejects appeals of FC Barcelona and Spanish FA in relation to transfers of minors. http://t.co/e7PDv1Co5b
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) August 20, 2014
That’s right, Barcelona’s transfer ban appeal has been denied and they are now officially banned from transfers until 2016, starting this January. This is a surprise to many, who expected Barcelona’s ban to be shortened after an appeal.
Barcelona’s spending spree this summer is the result of the ban, as they have been buying for the next three windows that they will be banned from. They have solved many of the perceived problems of their squad, with a new keeper in ter-Stegen, defenders, in Mathieu and Vermaelen, and more attacking signings in Suarez and Rakitic. There is still holes in the squad, and any team with a player Barcelona want will know that they have both the money and the need to spend big. This transfer window could go out with a bang.