Barcelona threat factors deduction after 3-0 win as rivals ‘examine rule break’
Barcelona beat Osasuna 3-0 on Thursday night to go three points clear at the top of the LaLiga table, but the result could be overturned due to a potential rule break
Osasuna are reportedly investigating whether Barcelona breached FIFA regulations by fielding a potentially ineligible player in Thursday’s match between the two clubs.
Barca’s centre-back Inigo Martinez played the entire game, contributing to a decisive 3-0 victory, despite pulling out of Spain’s squad due to injury at the beginning of the international break.
However, the result, which propelled Hansi Flick’s team three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, could be reversed if Osasuna successfully invoke Article 5 of FIFA’s rulebook.
Spanish media outlet Cadena COPE reports that Osasuna’s legal team are contemplating contesting the result if they deem that 33-year-old Martinez was unjustly selected.
The rule stipulates that if a player misses or withdraws from their national team due to injury, they can’t play for their club for five days following the last match of the international window – unless the national federation explicitly releases the player.
With Spain defeating the Netherlands on Sunday in their Nations League quarter-final, only four days had passed before Barcelona took on Osasuna.
A potential factor could be that the rescheduled date for the fixture – originally set for March 8 – was only confirmed last Friday, following the sudden death of Barcelona club doctor Carles Minarro Garcia, leaving both teams with less than a week to prepare. By then, Martinez had already withdrawn from the Spain squad due to an injury sustained against Atletico Madrid.
It remains to be seen whether the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) granted permission for the former Athletic Bilbao defender to leave the national team. Barca are said to be confident they’ll avoid any punishment such as a points deduction.
Top-flight clubs typically don’t feature on a Thursday post-international break, and the tight scheduling left Barcelona without Raphinha.
The Brazilian forward had played an entire game for his country just hours earlier on Wednesday morning Spanish time, landing in the city a day before kick-off following a long journey.
Barcelona were furious with La Liga’s choice to reschedule the match to Thursday, but the 3-0 win will go a long way to pleasing the Blaugrana. Early goals by Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo set Flick’s on their way before Robert Lewandowski, who lined up for Poland on Monday, came off the bench to score his 23rd La Liga goal this campaign.
Defender Jules Kounde expressed his anger about the rearranged fixture. Speaking to DAZN after the game, he said: “I’m angry about the date. It is not something normal.
“We have spoken many times about the calendar, we play too many games. I know there are people who don’t understand it. I consider myself lucky to live off our passion, but it’s a lack of respect and not only to the club.
“I’m also talking about Osasuna, who had players away on international duty too, like [Ante] Budimir, who I faced and who haven’t had the necessary rest. It doesn’t matter the club. Osasuna, Barcelona, Real Madrid… It is a lack of respect for the players, not only for the clubs.
“We are not machines and to produce our game and play a good game we need rest. All institutions – not just La Liga – have to understand this.”
Barca return to action this Sunday, hosting their Catalan rivals Girona. They’re then set to face Atletico in Madrid on Wednesday for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, with the tie currently balanced at 4-4.
