Nantes receive 16-month transfer ban after Ismael Bangoura dispute

French side Nantes will not be able to sign any players until the summer of 2015 after losing an appeal against a transfer ban imposed by Fifa.

The eight-time champions were given the sanction following a dispute over the signing of Guinea forward Ismael Bangoura from Al Nasr in January 2012.

Fifa backed the United Arab Emirates club's claim that the 29-year-old breached his contract.

Switzerland's Federal Supreme Court upheld the decision on Friday.

The court found that Bangoura, who has also played for Dynamo Kiev and Rennes, was under contract with Al Nasr when he signed for Nantes.

Nantes, who are currently 15th in the Ligue 1 table, have also been ordered to pay Al Nasr €4.5m (£3.73m).

They can sell and release players but are barred from registering new signings with the French Football Federation.