Barça to put the freeze on FIFA
Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that Barça are to cut off all institutional ties with FIFA for the duration of the club's transfer ban. He also noted that he will be sending a "strongly worded letter" to Sepp Blatter, the president of the world governing body, over the next few days.
Speaking at the same press conference at which he announced that Barcelona's presidential elections have been brought forward to June, the 'Azulgranas' chief outlined the club's plans to fight the sanction for its handling of underage players. He said that despite the recent ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) endorsing FIFA's position, "this is not the end of the matter".
"I foresee the Barça case becoming a watershed in the football world, just like the Bosman case. However long it lasts, we will not lose this case", he added.
Bartomeu also claimed that Barcelona saw the CAS's decision coming and so "made an extra effort" to strengthen the squad during last summer's transfer window.
In related news, the 51-year-old revealed that he will not be attending FIFA's Ballon d'Or gala in Zurich next Monday, 12th January, despite Leo Messi being in the running to claim the accolade for the fifth time.