Barcelona have been banned from all transfer activity until 2015 after they were found to have breached rules regarding the signing of under-18s.
The ban covers the next two transfer windows. Barca have also been fined 450,000 Swiss Francs [€369,000]. The RFEF has also been fined 500,000 Swiss Francs [€410,000] and ordered to improve its system regarding the international transfer of minors within 12 months.
A FIFA statement said: “The sanctions follow investigations initially conducted by FIFA Transfer Matching System GmbH (FIFA TMS) over the course of last year and subsequently by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee as part of disciplinary proceedings.
“The RFEF and Barcelona were found to have violated several provisions concerning the international transfer and first registration of non-Spanish minors with the club, as well as other relevant regulations with regard to the registration and participation of certain players in national competitions.
“The investigations concerned several minor players who were registered and participated in competitions with the club over various periods between 2009 and 2013.
“Barcelona has been found to be in breach of art. 19 of the Regulations in the case of ten minor players and to have committed several other concurrent infringements in the context of other players.
“The Disciplinary Committee regarded the infringements as serious and decided to sanction the club with a transfer ban at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods, together with a fine of CHF 450,000.
“Additionally, the club was granted a period of 90 days in which to regularise the situation of all minor players concerned.
“The RFEF was sanctioned with a fine of CHF 500,000 and granted a period of one year in which to regularise their regulatory framework and existing system concerning the international transfer of minors in football.”
FIFA's full statement on the matter can be found here.
