Barcelona will not be able to present Luis Suarez to the press and public when his transfer from Liverpool is complete.
Suarez’s impending £75million move can go ahead in the coming days despite his four-month worldwide ban from all football-related activity.
But FIFA has confirmed the suspension does prevent the kind of welcoming ceremony Barcelona customarily throw for their marquee signings.
Spokeswoman Delia Fischer said: “The ban relates to all football-related activity. He cannot be in a football-related public event irrespective of the venue. He cannot even be involved in a football-related charity event.”
Suarez has already failed to have his ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini shortened or overturned by FIFA, but the Uruguay striker’s lawyer is planning to take the fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The court (CAS) can suspend the ban pending an appeal, but Suarez would then run the risk of the entire ban falling within next season.
As it stands he will be available for his new club by the end of October, although Uruguay must do without their star man for nine internationals.
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Source: Sky Sports