Osasuna Receives Verdict On Appeal Against Barcelona’s Fielding Of ‘Injured’ Martínez

‎Osasuna announced on Friday that their appeal concerning Barcelona’s use of defender Inigo Martinez in last month’s La Liga match has been rejected.

‎Martinez missed Spain’s game due to injury.

‎Osasuna submitted the appeal to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), arguing that Barcelona should not have included Martinez in their lineup due to a technicality. He had withdrawn from the Spain squad for their Nations League matches because of a swollen knee.

‎Martinez then played the full 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 3-0 win in the rescheduled game on March 27th, four days after Spain’s match.

‎The original fixture on March 8th was postponed after the death of Barcelona’s club doctor.

‎Osasuna’s appeal was based on a belief that Barca violated Article 5 of Annex I of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

‎This rule states that a player who does not join or leave his national team for medical reasons cannot play for his club during the five calendar days after the international period ends.

‎Osasuna stated that they were informed of the dismissal of their appeal. They also received the reasoning behind the decision.

‎”The RFEF, by allowing the players to leave the training camp without imposing any type of limitation on them, as well as subsequently issuing the certificate of dismissal, is implicitly expressing its desire not to apply the said prohibitive rule,” the ruling said.

‎Osasuna disagrees, arguing that there was no mention of the restriction not being applicable in either the RFEF’s public statement or in communications to the clubs. The club plans to file an appeal with the Appeal Committee.

‎Both clubs had appeals for the fixture to be postponed rejected.