FIFA suspend Barcelona's transfer ban pending outcome of appeal

FIFA have announced that Barcelona's transfer ban has been suspended pending the outcome of the club's appeal.

The Catalan giants were hit with the sanction after breaching rules in relation to the acquisition of under-18 players.

Barcelona lodged an official appeal against the ban, which would have prevented them from signing new players in this summer's transfer window and the winter market in January.

However, the club will be allowed to carry out transfer activity at the end of the season after the world governing body granted them a suspension.

FIFA said in a statement: "The chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee, Larry Mussenden, took into consideration the sanctions imposed against the club, the complexity of the matter, the start date of the next registration period – July 1, 2014 – and the fact that the FIFA Appeal Committee does not seem in a position to take a decision on the main issue early enough so that an eventual appeal of the club against its decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport would still be decided before the beginning of the next registration period.

"Consequently, the chairman of the FIFA Appeal Committee considered that the appeal lodged by the club is to be granted suspensive effect."

Barcelona are currently second in La Liga table, four point behind leaders Atletico Madrid.