LaLiga: Osasuna submit appeal over ineligible Barcelona player in 3-0 defeat

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LaLiga: Osasuna submit appeal over ineligible Barcelona player in 3-0 defeat

Osasuna on Friday submitted an appeal to the Spanish football federation, RFEF, claiming that Barcelona should not have fielded Iñigo Martínez in their LaLiga fixture due to a technicality, as he had sat out Spain’s matches with an injury.

Martínez had withdrawn from the national squad for their Nations League fixtures due to a swollen right knee.

However, the defender played the full 90 minutes as Barça thrashed Osasuna 3-0 on Thursday.

The result saw Hansi Flick’s men move three points clear at the top of the table.

“The club understands that the participation of Iñigo Martínez in yesterday’s match violated Article 5 of Annex I of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players,” Osasuna said in a statement.

“It specifies that a player who does not join or leaves his national team for medical reasons may not play matches for his club during the five calendar days following the end of the international period.

"Osasuna believes that Iñigo Martínez, whose absence from the Spanish national team was due to medical leave, was not eligible to play in yesterday’s match in accordance with FIFA regulations.”

Osasuna currently sit 14th in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone.