Barcelona Transfer Ban + Weekend Listing+ Away Kit

No doubt many have already heard the news earlier in the day that FIFA slapped Barcelona with a ban lasting 2 transfer windows, presumably for signing Lee Seung-Woo as an under age player (where to begin, byzantine FIFA rules that are supposed to prevent youth exploitation by agents/clubs).  Barcelona has several under age players from Africa and Korea cited by FIFA as examples of their rules being violated. The Guardian posted this about Barca’s troubles and highlighted Lee Seung-Woo’s case: 

Case study: Lee Seung-woo

“Spotted at the age of 13 playing for local club side Cha Boom in a nine-a-side tournament in South Africa in 2010, Lee moved to La Masia the following year having rejected Real Madrid and two Bundesliga clubs. He has been christened “the Korean Messi” for his likeness to the Argentina forward and actually managed to out-score his hero at under-15 level, managing 38 goals and 18 assists in just 29 games compared to Messi’s 37 goals in 30 appearances. So it was little wonder that news of his decision to sign a first professional deal at the end of March after rejecting the advances of Liverpool and Chelsea among others was welcomed by coaches at La Masia. With Barça having lost promising talents Josimar (Chelsea), Julio Pleguezuelo (Arsenal) and Sergi Canós (Liverpool) to English clubs in the past year, Lee’s preference to stay at home had become a priority and a complicated deal with his agents Pere Guardiola (brother of the Bayern Munich manager, Pep) and Pau Clavero had been devised to cover the next five seasons of his development, including a potential release clause of €12m. All that careful planning could all go to waste should CAS reject Barça’s appeal and Lee – whose extended family also intended to move to Spain in the summer – may find himself without a club.”

-From the Guardian

Barcelona will probably appeal the ruling – we’ll try to update when we know more about this.

Meanwhile over at Bayer Leverkusen, boss Sami Hyypia is in a bit of trouble as some people are losing faith in his abilities to keep the club viable for Champions League qualifications after a miserable draw with a bottom dwelling Bundesliga club.

Jeonbuk Motors won 1-0 with Guangzhou Evergrande in the Asian Champions League today while Pohang delivered a 4-2 victory over at Shandong Luneng.

Bit of a short kickaround as the Tavern owner is getting ready to leave for the weekend for a wedding out of town. I’m not sure how much I’m able to update, but at the very least, here’s this weekend’s listings courtesy of Korean Footballers Abroad: (all times in US EST / TV listings in US)

And in the K-League this weekend:

What game(s) are you going to watch?

Jae jumping in. The KFA/Nike have officially released images of the new away kit, and just like the home kit, they look exactly like the previously leaked images from earlier this year. The shirt is white with a red and blue shoulder stripe. The shorts and socks are white. Personally, I’m not wild about it, but I suppose it could be worse.