Barcelona was banned by FIFA from signing any new players for next season after being found

Barcelona was banned by FIFA from signing any new players for next season after being found guilty on Wednesday of repeatedly breaching transfer regulations regulations in signing youth players to its renowned La Masia program. Caleb Sturgis Chargers Jersey . The Spanish club later announced that it would appeal FIFAs decision. The heavy sanction, which covers the summer and January transfer windows, followed an investigation over the past year into Barcelonas signing of players under the age of 18 from 2009 to 2013. FIFA found the signing of 10 un-named players to be in breach of its rules covering the protection of minors. A fine of 450,000 Swiss francs ($509,000) was also imposed on Barcelona, which was given 90 days "to regularize the situation of all minor players concerned." Barcelona released a 14-point rebuttal, vowing to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if it did not succeed in reversing the decision with FIFA and be allowed to sign during the transfer window. "Ever since FIFA opened the case the players licenses were cancelled and they have not participated in any official games," Barcelona said in a statement that mostly pointed fingers at the Spanish and Catalan football federation, along with FIFA, while defending La Masia as "an example" of social responsibility in educating young players on and off the field. "These players have all been given the option to remain with the club despite their licenses being revoked," the statement added. The Spanish Football Federation was also found by the world governing body to have violated the rules covering the registration of minors and fined 500,000 Swiss francs ($565,500). Barcelona said in February 2013 that FIFA had sent a communication instructing it not to select six players who are under 18 for its youth matches -- South Koreas Lee Seung Woo, Paik Seung-Ho and Jang Gyeolhee, Theo Chendri of France, Nigerian-Dutchman Bobby Adekanye and Patrice Sousia of Cameroon. The international transfer of players under the age of 18 can only go through if their parents move to the country for non-football reasons. Players between 16 and 18 can move within Europe if certain standards of education and living conditions are met. The punishment, which prevents Barcelona from signing any players until the summer of 2015, leaves recent agreements with Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Croatian teenager Alen Halilovic to join the club in July in limbo. Barcelona has three working days to inform FIFA of an intention to appeal and then a further week to provide its reasons for challenging the punishment. Premier League club Chelsea had a one-year transfer embargo imposed after being found by FIFA to have induced teenager Gael Kakuta to leave Lens, but it was overturned in 2010 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. FIFA tightened its rules on transferring minors in 2010, to help end what global players union FIFPro described as the equivalent of "child trafficking." FIFA sought to close loopholes which allowed clubs and agents to bring youngsters to Europe on the promise of getting a lucrative contract, only to abandon them without a job or education. In the Barcelona case, FIFA stressed the "interest in protecting the appropriate and healthy development of a minor as a whole must prevail over purely sporting interests." "The disciplinary committee emphasized that the protection of minors in the context of international transfers is an important social and legal issue that concerns all stakeholders in football," FIFA said in a statement. "Above all, the committee highlighted that while international transfers might, in specific cases, be favourable to a young players sporting career, they are very likely to be contrary to the best interests of the player as a minor." Barcelona potentially needs to sign a replacement goalkeeper, with Victor Valdes out of contract at the end of the season and ruled out for seven months this week following knee surgery. Gerard Pique is in need of an assured partner in central defence with the impending retirement of Carles Puyol. The FIFA case threatens to further damage the image of a Catalan football institution that is owned by its members and prides itself as being "more than a club". It is currently grappling with the fallout from last years signing of the 22-year-old Neymar. Barcelona president Sandro Rosell abruptly quit in January as he fights a lawsuit alleging he misappropriated funds by hiding the real cost of Neymars signing from Brazilian club Santos. In February, Barcelona paid 13.55 million euros (then $18.6 million) to Spanish tax authorities to cover any potential irregularities over the transfer, while maintaining its innocence of fraud charges. AP Sports Writer Paul Logothetis in Madrid contributed to this report Kyzir White Jersey .Jeff Green, playing in his second preseason game after missing the first four because of a calf strain, had 18 points. The Celtics (3-3) shot 47.2 per cent from the floor and made 15 of 37 3-point attempts. Mike Pouncey Jersey . He never mentioned anything about his hitting. The 33-year-old right-hander had success with both Sunday, pitching six solid innings and helping the offence-starved Mets with an RBI single as New York salvaged a doubleheader split with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Youth-Uchenna-Nwosu-Elite-Jersey/ . -- Caris LeVert had 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for his first career double-double, and No.DENVER - The Toronto Raptors will have newly-minted All-Star DeMar DeRozan in the line-up tonight when they open a western road trip against the Denver Nuggets. The Raptors have DeRozan listed as questionable after he missed the last two games with an ankle and foot injury. Toronto also said that Amir Johnson (ankle) and Patrick Patterson (broken nose) will also play. After Fridays bout with the Nuggets, the Raps will visit the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Clippers. They return to Toronto for two before the All-Star break. DeRozan was selected as a reserve for the game in New Orleans, and will be the Raptors first representative in the All-Star game since Chris Bosh in 2010. "It means a lot," acknowledged DeRozan, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury. "I continue to work hard. I wouldnt be here without my teammates. They helped me get here." Against the Magic, Kyle Lowry, who missed out on a spot on the East All-Star squad, scored 30 of his 33 points in the first and third quarters and the Raptors led wire-to-wire in a 98-83 win. Amir Johnson added 22 points and 11 rebounds and Jonas Valanciunas scored 14 with 15 boards for the Raptors, who have won four of five. The Nuggets continue to be an enigma. After a three-game losing streak, Denver won two in a row, but laid an egg Wednesday night when it kicked off a four- game homestand with a loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Virgil Green Chargers Jersey. Al Jefferson pummeled the Nuggets with 35 points and 11 rebounds in the 101-98 loss. Randy Foye scored 33 points, Evan Fournier had 19 to go with six assists and Timofey Mozgov added 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Nuggets. Denver guard Ty Lawson missed the game with a strained left rotator cuff that he suffered in Sundays win over Sacramento. Lawsons replacement, Nate Robinson, was injured in the first quarter after a fall under the basket. He limped off the court and did not return. Lawson will not play, while Robinson suffered a sprained anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Robinson has been ruled out of Fridays game, but theres no timetable as he awaits further evaluation. If Lawson cant go Friday, Foye will assume the point-guard duties. If Lawson is out long-term, that might signal the return of veteran Andre Miller, who has been away from the team since Jan. 2 for personal reasons. (Miller and head coach Brian Shaw got into a heated exchange on the court.) "Ive always said that I can coach any player that is willing to play and do whats best for the team overall," Shaw said. "If hes willing to do whats best for the team overall, Im willing to coach him. Ive said that before; Im saying it again." The Nuggets defeated the Raptors in Toronto on Dec. 1 and have won 16 of the last 19 meetings. Denver has taken nine straight over the Raps at the Pepsi Center. Cheap Heat Jerseys Cheap Bucks Jerseys Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys Cheap Pelicans Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Thunder Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Cheap 76ers Jerseys Cheap Suns Jerseys Cheap Blazers Jerseys Cheap Sacramento Kings Jerseys Cheap Spurs Jerseys Cheap Raptors Jerseys Cheap Jazz Jerseys Cheap Wizards Jerseys ' ' '