Barcelona’s 3-0 Victory Under Threat as Osasuna Challenges Alleged Rule Violation

Barcelona's 3-0 victory over CA Osasuna is now under investigation after Osasuna raised concerns about a potential rule violation regarding the eligibility of Barcelona's defender, Iñigo Martínez. The club has submitted an appeal to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), claiming that Martínez played in the match despite being ineligible according to FIFA regulations.

Martínez had withdrawn from the Spanish national team due to a knee injury and, under FIFA's Article 5, players who miss international duty for medical reasons are prohibited from featuring for their club within five days following the international window, unless explicitly authorized by the national federation. Despite this, Martínez played the full match against Osasuna, which took place just four days after Spain's last international fixture.

Osasuna argues that Martínez's participation breached these rules and has formally appealed to the RFEF for a review of the match result. Should the investigation support Osasuna's claims, Barcelona could face sanctions, including a potential points deduction or the annulment of their victory. This is especially crucial as Barcelona currently holds a slender three-point lead over Real Madrid in the La Liga standings.

The RFEF has clarified that Martínez was cleared to play based on a medical report provided by Barcelona. This case mirrors previous incidents in Spanish football. In 2004, Osasuna successfully appealed a similar issue involving their player, Aloisi, who was allowed to play after being officially released from national team duties. In contrast, a 2006 challenge by Espanyol concerning Barcelona's use of Xavi and Puyol, who were also released due to injuries, was dismissed, which could set a relevant precedent for this case.

As the RFEF reviews the appeal, the football community is awaiting a resolution that could have significant consequences for the La Liga title race.