Osasuna contests Barcelona match over ‘inappropriate’ use of player
Pamplona club filed an appeal and stated that Iñigo Martínez could not have participated in the match, citing a FIFA rule
As reported by the newspaper Marca , Osasuna filed an appeal and protested the game against Barcelona , which ended in a 0-3 defeat and which had been postponed until this Thursday, after the death of the Catalan team’s doctor.
The Pamplona club said their opponents had breached a FIFA rule and could not have brought on Iñigo Martínez after he had been injured and dropped from the squad ahead of the Nations League double-header against the Netherlands .
“The club understands that Iñigo Martínez’s participation in yesterday’s match violated Article 5 of Annex I of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, which specifies that a player who does not join or leaves his national team for medical reasons cannot play matches for his club for five calendar days after the end of the international period,” they wrote.
Spain’s last game was on March 23 and this delayed LaLiga matchday 27 fixture took place four days later, prompting Osasuna to make this statement.
«However, Club Atlético Osasuna is aware that Iñigo Martínez, whose absence with the Spanish national team was limited to medical leave, could not play yesterday’s game, in accordance with FIFA regulations. In view of this fact, the club decided to file an appeal for improper alignment in defense of its rights, the fairness of the competition and the equality of all participants”, they concluded, awaiting a decision.
Full statement:
Club Atlético Osasuna today filed an appeal with the Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation for the incorrect fielding of Fútbol Club Barcelona in last night’s game at the Lluís Companys stadium. The club understands that Iñigo Martínez’s participation in yesterday’s match violated Article 5 of Annex I of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, which specifies that a player who does not join or leaves his national team for medical reasons cannot play matches for his club for five calendar days after the end of the international period.
On March 17, the Royal Spanish Football Federation published on its communication channels that player Iñigo Martínez had been removed from the squad for medical reasons, specifically for ‘internal paramenisciitis in the right knee, as stated in the report received from FC Barcelona’. Likewise, on the same day, Marc Casadó and Bryan Zaragoza were also removed from the Spanish national team for medical reasons, with the latter being the only player who joined the Spanish national team’s training camp to be assessed by their medical services. It is clear that, in accordance with the aforementioned FIFA Regulations, none of these players could participate in yesterday’s match, corresponding to the 27th round of LaLiga EA Sports, since the deadlines established by the Regulations had not been met.
As medical leave is the justification for the cancellation, as communicated by the RFEF itself, Club Atlético Osasuna understands that this case cannot be covered by any exceptional situation that makes the FIFA Regulations inapplicable. The Navarrese club considers that the release of players Gerard Martín, Pablo Torre and Fermín López from their second commitment with the Spanish under-21 team is a different case, since their withdrawal was not justified by a medical reason.
However, Club Atlético Osasuna are aware that Iñigo Martínez, whose absence with the Spanish national team was limited to medical leave, would not have been able to play in yesterday’s game, according to FIFA regulations. In view of this fact, the Navarrese club decided to file an appeal for improper alignment in defense of its rights, the fairness of the competition and the equality of all participants.
