Osasuna confirmed on Friday that their appeal against Barcelona deploying defender Inigo Martinez in their LaLiga match last month was denied after he missed Spain’s game due to injury.
Osasuna protested to the Spanish football authorities, claiming Barca should not have fielded Martinez technically because he withdrew from the Spain Nations League squad due to a swollen knee.
Four days after Spain’s game, Martinez played the full 90 minutes in Barcelona’s 3-0 win on March 27. After Barcelona’s club doctor died, the March 8 match was postponed.
Osasuna claimed Barca violated Article 5 of Annex I of the FIFA Regulations on Player Status and Transfer.
A player who quits his national team for medical reasons may not play for his club for five days after the international period ends.
Osasuna claimed they received the appeal’s denial and reasoning.
“The RFEF is implicitly expressing its desire not to apply said prohibitive rule,” the ruling stated, allowing the players to leave the training camp without restrictions and issuing the dismissal certificate.
Osasuna will appeal to the Appeal Committee, saying the RFEF’s public announcement and club messaging did not disclose the restriction.
Both teams argued against moving the game off-peak.
