The Catalans' punishment has been suspended until a final decision on their appeal against the ban has been taken

The Catalans were initially banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18, but their suspension has now been put on hold until a final decision on their appeal has been taken.

"The club Barcelona have lodged an appeal before the Fifa Appeal Committee against the decision of the Fifa Disciplinary Committee that sanctioned the club for breaches relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18. Together with the appeal, the club requested that its appeal be granted suspensive effect," an official statement reads.

"In this respect, the chairman of the Fifa Appeal Committee, Larry Mussenden, took into consideration the sanctions imposed against the club, the complexity of the matter, the start date of the next registration period – 1 July 2014 – and the fact that the Fifa Appeal Committee does not seem in a position to take a decision on the main issue early enough so that an eventual appeal of the club against its decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport would still be decided before the beginning of the next registration period. 

"Consequently, the chairman of the Fifa Appeal Committee considered that the appeal lodged by the club is to be granted suspensive effect.  

"In view of the foregoing, the chairman of the Fifa Appeal Committee assures that proper and adequate appeal proceedings will take place and, at the same time, that all rights of the club will be respected."

World football governing body's decision to suspend Barcelona's transfer ban means the already confirmed transfer of Alen Halilovic from Dinamo Zagreb is back on, while it now also seems to be a matter of time before they complete the signing of Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.