Barcelona's transfer ban upheld. No buying of players until 2016

The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday today upheld a one year transfer ban against Spanish football club, Barcelona for breaching rules on signing under-aged players.
The implication is that the club will not be able to buy players until 2016.  Barcelona was also fined Swiss €375,000.
A statement from the court reads,”The Panel found in particular that FC Barcelona had breached the rules regarding the protection of minors and the registration of minors attending football academies.“‎

Madrid bans 17 fans for anti-barca/Messi chants

Anti-barca/Messi chants during a non-clasico match? Interesting!
In a bid to combat violence in football and escape being fined and charged by the Spanish FA, Spanish giants, Real Madrid have banned 17 fans from Santiago Bernabeu for starting songs insulting Barcelona FC and their star player, Lionel Messi.
The “Fuck Barca and Messi Retard” chants started during their clash with Celta Vigo few days back. Erring fans have been punished and banned from both stadium and other club activities.
Asides closing a part of the stands where the chants emanated from, 1500 supporters have also been told via letters not to engage in such act.

Barcelona coach, Luis Enrique sets strict rules, players will be fined if they turn up late for matches

And just like Manchester United coach, Louis Van Gaal who fines his men each time they arrive a minute late to breakfast and asks them to hand in their mobile phones the night before a match, Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has also made his own laws as regards punctuality amongst his players.

The new rules for players state that turning up late on Barcelona match days of Barcelona matches will attract a £300 fine. The amount will double to £600 and £1,200 for the second and third offences respectively. That’s not all! Turning up late for training, meetings or appointments will also attract a £150 fine

Real Madrid rejects Barcelona's bid for Angel di Maria.

The world would be surprised if they agreed. UCL Champions, Real Madrid has turned down Spanish giants, Barcelona’s bid to sign their winger Angel di Maria for £48m. The offer was instantly rejected by Madrid president, Florentino Perez.
The 26 year-old has been on many clubs’ radar ever since he requested to leave the Catalans after failing to agree new terms on his current contract. One of such clubs is PSG who later called time on their pursuit because he was too expensive. The Argentine has reportedly told Manchester United’s new signing, Rojo that he wants a move to the England club.

FIFA upholds Barcelona's transfer ban, no signing of players till 2016.

FIFA has upheld Barcelona’s transfer ban till January 2016. Recall that the Spanish club was banned few months back for breaching transfer regulations on underage players. It was temporarily lifted during the current transfer window. Its appeal against a fine of 500,000 Swiss francs ($565,500) was also rejected.
FIFA said the club will be banned from the national and international market for two consecutive transfer windows, starting in January 2015.
Barcelona immediately announced that the case would be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A statement from the club reads thus, “FC Barcelona announces that it shall continue defending its interests before the highest sporting authority, in this case the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

Barcelona's Lionel Messi returns to training with a new haircut

Barcelona playmaker, Lionel Messi who returned to training a day ago is wearing a new haircut. Messi has really stepped up. The Argentine forward has joined other footballers who parade an array of bizarre or bold haircuts. Gone are the days when he would leave his hair dull, shapeless and at times dangling across his forehead.

The father of one has shaved the sides of his head and left the top intact. Can’t wait to read footie fans’ reactions to his new look when the season kicks off this month.

‘I would have been disappointed to see Luis Suarez go to Arsenal’- Steven Gerrard.

Steven Gerrard just made more enemies in Arsenal fans. The Liverpool captain reportedly told embattled Uruguayan striker, Luis Suarez that he was pleased with his decision to join Barcelona adding that an Arsenal move wouldn’t have been too good.

“His dream from the first day he came was to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. Last summer when he was out in the cold and training on his own that’s the conversation I had with him. I said: ‘Don’t go to Arsenal. I would have been really sad and disappointed to see Luis go to Arsenal. With all due respect to them, I said to him that he was too good for Arsenal. I said if you score 30 goals for us and win the PFA player of the year, the press player of the year – I knew he was going to win them – I told him Real or Barcelona will come for you.”

He continued, “I’m disappointed to see him leave now but I am happy for him that’s he has got what he wants and deserves. Since day one he has been phenomenal in training every day and in the games. I think he got the wrong advice last year from people around him, from people saying he needed to play in the Champions League and it did not matter who it was for.

“I have experience of the Spanish clubs myself and I know if you play well they will come back and come back. I knew they’d be back for him as well. I just thought for his own sake, to get respect off the Liverpool fans, he had to give us at least one year. A lot of people might still think he should have given us one more, but my big dream was to play for Liverpool, and the foreign players’ big dream is to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona, that’s a fact.” He concluded.

Top 10 highest paid World Cup players+ their endorsement deals

And just in almost every football list. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo lead the pack.

Below are top 10 highest paid World Cup stars and their endorsement deals.

(1) Lionel Messi – £292,000 (After Tax)- Endorsement deals- EA Sports, Adidas, Turkish Arilines, Gillette, Pepsi

(2) Ronaldo – £288,000 (after Tax)-Endorsement deals- Konami, Nike, Coca Cola, Castrol, herbalife, KFC, Armani, Emirates

(3) Wayne Rooney – £300,000 – Endorsement deals- Harper Collins, Nike, EA Sports, Coca-Cola

(4) Robin Van Persie – £250,000- Endorsement deals-  Adidas, BT Sport, Pepsi

(5) Thiago Silva – £250,000 – Endorsement deal- Nike

(6) Yaya Toure – £240,000 – Endorsement deals – Puma, Ford

(7) Sergio Aguero – £230,000 – Endorsement deals- Puma, Pepsi

(8) Neymar – £230,000 – Endorsement deals – Nike, Volkswagon, Coca Cola

(9) Luis Suarez – £220,000 – Endorsement deal – Adidas

(10) David Silva – £200,000 – Endorsement deal – Nike

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