Tom PowellFC Barcelona’s transfer ban has been suspended by FIFA for the duration of the appeal process, allowing the Catalan giants to sign players as usual this summer.
The current La Liga champions were originally hit with a 14-month transfer ban, as a result of singing international players younger than 18.
But Fifa’s appeal committee has now granted the ‘suspensive effect’ sought by Barcelona.
This leaves the club free to sign target David Luiz of Chelsea this summer as a replacement for captain Carles Puyol, who is set to call time on his career.
The chairman of the appeal committee, Larry Mussenden, said the decision was made because they would not be able to hear the case early enough to permit a final appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport before the transfer window opens on July 1.
Barcelona fans will be thrilled by this news as they look to pout a forgettable season behind them, having been defeated in the Copa del Rey final by rivals Real Madrid and knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid.
