Just hours after achieving a decent result in the Champions League after playing one of the best games of the season, attention in Barcelona has quickly shifted toward off-the-pitch matters once again -- in what is regrettably becoming a regular and disturbing occurrence in recent times.
The titanic team effort to level the game after Diego's monstrous strike. Andres Iniesta's world-class vision. The way in which Neymar came alive during the second half, returning to the most confident version of himself. Gerard Pique's four-week-long recovery process after fracturing his hip. Marc Bartra's impressive game despite starting on the bench and his lack of experience at the highest level. How the Catalan crowd lifted the players when they needed it the most.
Unfortunately, I won't be discussing what happened on the pitch during the most important game of the season at European level. Instead, my column will be focused on the fact FIFA has banned Barcelona from signing any new players until the summer of 2015. Yes, you read that right: for the next summer and winter transfer windows.
The reason for such a severe ban? FIFA understands that the Catalan club have broken the rules regarding international transfers and the registration of players under the age of 18. They understand that the appropriate and healthy development of a minor is more important than sporting interests.
As expected, Barcelona have already announced their decision to appeal, arguing that their La Masia model has successfully provided a solid personal and sporting foundation to many world-class professionals such as Lionel Messi, Pep Guardiola or Xavi Hernandez since 1979. In their eyes, there is nothing wrong with giving a youngster the chance to improve their footballing skills at the world's most celebrated academy while providing a quality, integral education that they probably wouldn't get anywhere else.
The board, now led by Josep Maria Bartomeu after Sandro Rosell ran away from the presidential seat a couple of months ago, is convinced that they can demonstrate that every player in their youth system has every license needed to play the game at every level. In their eyes, no civil law has been broken at any point. In fact, their grassroots football model has been repeatedly praised by FIFA on a number of occasions.
Personally, I am getting increasingly tired of having the club's name tarnished by transfer allegations, supposed frauds, over-inflated transfers and other similar rubbish. It is clear that the Madrid-based media must be thrilled to have yet another story to blow out of proportion for countless hours until a final resolution is reached -- which is not likely to happen anytime soon.
Don't get me wrong, I honestly believe that if any rules or laws have been broken, sanctions must be accepted. Considering the Barcelona board was made aware of this issue in 2009 during Joan Laporta's mandate, it is embarrassing that club directors have failed to solve the situation during the past five years. More attention should have been given to an issue which was always going to end up exploding in their faces.
More importantly, the ban is very likely to have a damaging effect on the first-team squad. After several years of searching the market for the world-class centre-back the team desperately needs, it now turns out that Cules will have to wait for at least another yet another 15 months to sign any kind of quality replacement for outgoing captain Carles Puyol.
Despite his injury, legendary goalkeeper Victor Valdes will also depart this summer. FIFA's ban will put the signing of a worthy substitute on hold for an entire season. What's even worse: Players who had already agreed to join the Blaugranas this summer (such as Marc Andre Ter Stegen or Alen Halilovic) may very well choose to further their careers elsewhere if they aren't allowed to sign their contracts with the Catalan giants.
Some reports out of Barcelona have been quick to point their fingers at Real Madrid's president Florentino Perez, who they claim must be using his powerful hand behind the scenes to damage the Blaugranas' potential. However, it is pretty hard for me to believe that an institution of such importance as Barcelona may be influenced by any external sources, however powerful they may be.
I sincerely hope the process continues its due course and a final decision is reached as soon as possible. If Barcelona are proven guilty of any wrongdoing, then fines should be paid and sanctions fulfilled. At the same time, every other major club in Europe should be investigated with the same rigidity and strictness.
As always, all Cules can do is trust the current squad is, once again, able to pull through yet another unexpected blow.
Tots Units Fem Forca!
The Quote: "La Masia’s model incorporates educational training programs, accommodation, meals, medical care, attention to the needs of children and sports development plans. FCB forms people before athletes, a fact that has not been considered by FIFA, which applies a penalty criterion that ignores the educational function of our training program. There has been no non-regulatory participation in athletic endeavours by any players." -- Barcelona official communique.
More than 430,000 Cules follow Francesc Tomas at @TomasESPN and Barcablog Facebook for news and opinion notes on Barcelona.