Barca transfer ban upheld

Football: Barcelona will not be able to sign any players in 2015 after the club’s appeal against a transfer ban was dismissed yesterday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The ban was handed out in April due to concerns over the “international transfer of minors,” specifically under-18s who played with Barcelona between 2009 and 2013.

Barcelona maintains that it acted properly, claiming that the original breaches to a “large extent have been caused by the existing conflict between Fifa regulations and Spanish legislation.”

Second Test a draw following heavy rain

Cricket: The second Test between South Africa and the West Indies ended in a draw yesterday after the fifth and final day was called off without a ball being bowled in Port Elizabeth.

Heavy rain overnight meant an extremely wet outfield and the draw was announced at 1pm local time.

South Africa head to the third and final Test, which begins in Cape Town on Friday, 1-0 up.

Friday TV a pain for lower leagues

Football: Premier League plans to broadcast live games on Friday nights — traditionally reserved for lower-league matches — were branded “frustrating” yesterday by Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey.

Harvey blamed the demands of the Champions League and Europa League for adding to the pressure on domestic competitions.