The Bluebirds were ordered by football’s governing body to part with an initial £5.3m to Nantes last month but have so far failed to follow the directive.
Cardiff City are making plans to contest FIFA’s decision at the Court Of Arbitration for Sport.
A part of a 21-page documented sent by FIFA to the English club reads: "A ban from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the maximum duration of three entire and consecutive registration periods shall become effective."
Cardiff announced the club record signing of Sala in January for £15m but the Argentine never got to play for the club as he died in a tragic plane crash two days after the deal was struck.
Sala was flying from France to England, alongside pilot David Ibbotson, to join up with his new team, when their Piper Malibu N264DB plane crashed into the sea along the English channel.
The light plane was found 67 metres underwater in February, 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey in the Channel with the search party retrieving Sala’s body from it but that of pilot Ibbotson has never been found.
Cardiff City, who have since been relegated from the Premier League, opted against paying the agreed first installment of the transfer fee because they insist Sala’s registration was incomplete before he died.
Nantes lodged a complaint with FIFA Players’ Status Committee, who ruled in favour of the French club.
