LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- Barcelona's appeal against a one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA for breaking youth transfer rules will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Dec. 5.
CAS says it will give a fast-track verdict before the transfer window opens in January.
Barcelona protected themselves against another possible legal defeat by signing extra players in the summer transfer window.
FIFA had to suspend the transfer ban while the appeal runs its course.
The case emerged in February 2013, when world football's governing body blocked Barcelona from selecting youngsters from South Korea, France, Nigeria and Cameroon for competitive matches.
FIFA tightened transfer rules in 2010 to help bring an end to what was described as "child trafficking," in which clubs and agents took boys to Europe with the promise of lucrative contracts.