Barcelona president Jordi Bartomeu has accepted partial blame on Sunday for the Catalan giants' transfer ban, blaming the sanction on "certain administrative irregularities".
The Liga heavyweights were handed a two-transfer window ban due to breaching Fifa rules regarding the signing of minors, a decision Barcelona decided to appeal.
The ban was suspended upon appeal, allowing the Blaugrana to dive into this summer's transfer market, splashing big cash on marquee signing Luis Suarez, who's Camp Nou arrival cost a reported £65m, as well as securing the signatures of Ivan Rakitic, Thomas Vermaelen, Jeremy Mathieu, and Claudio Bravo.
However, on August 20, football's governing body passed a decision to uphold the ban, meaning Barcelona cannot sign any new players from 1st September 2014 to 31st December 2015. The club announced they will again appeal this decision, but this time Barcelona will take their fight to Court of Abritration for Sport (CAS).
"We knew that the Appeal Committee might uphold the sanction," Bartomeu stated. "We've committed certain administrative irregularities [related to the registration of minors] in the past, but we've always respected the spirit of the regulations. We expected to have to appeal to the CAS and now the time has come. Hopefully we'll get a more favourable ruling over the next few months"
Despite admitting to irregularities on their part, Bartomeu claims the punishment is "excessive", but argues their promising B-team could ease the need of additional signings.
"We had planned for the season in the knowledge that we might be barred from signing players for two transfer windows. In addition, we have the advantage of having an extremely promising B-team. Munir [El Haddadi] shone tonight, but there are other B-team players who can make the breakthrough".
Barcelona were permitted to make signings this summer, splashing £65m on Uruguayan superstar Luis Suarez, according to the Catalan club
Jordi Bartomeu believes upcoming talents such as Munir El Haddadi, described as "the next Messi", can help ease the club's need of fresh players during the duration of the transfer ban
