The Spanish giants will not be able to purchase players in the next two transfer windows, after breaching regulations regarding the transfer of youth players.
FIFA have today announced that they have rejected an appeal from FC Barcelona over alleged breaches of transfer regulations, and have upheld the two-window transfer ban originally imposed in April. As such, the Catalan club will not be permitted to make any signings in the next two transfer windows, January and summer 2015. They will also have to pay a fine of 450,000 Swiss francs.
The breaches relate to the transfer and registration of footballers aged under-18, and Barcelona have been given 90 days to "regularise" the situations of all players affected. The rules in question govern the transfer of players from outside the European Union, and the Guardian reported at the time that players were likely from Cameroon and South Korea; the Press Association have today reported that ten players are involved.
Barcelona's appeal meant that they were able to spend this summer recruiting, and perhaps in anticipation of the ban being upheld they've had a busy few months. The headline acquisition of Luis Suárez from Liverpool has been supplemented by the purchases of midfielder Ivan Rakitić, defenders Jérémy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen, as well as young goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and attacking midfield prospect Alen Halilović. The club have not yet indicated whether they will seek to pursue a further appeal.
Update: the club have now confirmed that they will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Also involved were the governing body of Spanish football, the RFEF, who have been fined 500,000 Swiss francs and given a year to "regularise their regulatory framework and existing system concerning the international transfer of minors in football". Again, it is not yet clear if they intend to appeal.