FIFA rejects Barcelona appeal, no new signings allowed in 2015

Barcelona will be barred from signing any players in 2015 after FIFA rejected the club's appeal against a one-year ban for breaching rules over the transfer of youngsters.

The Spanish giant will now ask sport's highest court to overturn the punishment, which resulted from the signing of 10 players under the age of 18 to the club's renowned La Masia academy. FIFA found the signings to have violated rules designed to prevent child trafficking.

Because Barcelona launched an appeal against the transfer embargo in April, the ban was temporarily lifted during the current transfer window, which closes on Sept 1. That allowed Barcelona to spend about $240 million strengthening during the off-season, with Uruguay striker Luis Suarez the headline signing from Liverpool.