Getafe report Real Madrid over Camavinga sub: what punishment could club face?

Getafe have lodged a complaint over Real Madrid’s chaotic substitution of Eduardo Camavinga on Sunday, arguing that Los Blancos fielded an ineligible player.

Getafe have filed a complaint against Real Madrid for allegedly fielding an ineligible player during the clubs’ LaLiga clash at the weekend.

Camavinga change under the microscope

Los Azulones believe that Madrid’s late substitution of Eduardo Camavinga was against the laws of the game, and have taken their case to the Spanish Football Federation’s Competition Committee. Madrid have been officially notified of Getafe’s complaint, and will have three days to respond.

In the 84th minute of Madrid’s 1-0 win at the Bernabéu on Sunday, Camavinga was replaced by Álvaro Odriozola - but the Frenchman was not originally the player chosen to come off. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti had initially opted to substitute Marco Asensio. The forward made his way to the touchline and high-fived Odriozola, who ran onto the pitch.

At this point, however, Camavinga asked to be substituted, having picked up an injury in a challenge with Getafe’s Juan Iglesias. That forced Madrid into a hasty change of plans, with Asensio remaining on the pitch and Camavinga becoming the player replaced by Odriozola.

“Substitution completed when substitute enters field of play”

Match referee Juan Martínez Munuera did not raise any objections to this - but the laws of the game, published by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), suggest that Madrid should not have been able to walk back their chosen change of personnel.

Per law 3.3, which governs ‘substitution procedure’, “the substitution is completed when a substitute enters the field of play; from that moment, the replaced player becomes a substituted player”.

What punishment could Real Madrid face?

If the Competition Committee deems that the substitution was complete before Madrid’s about-turn, that would mean Asensio was ineligible to continue playing. Were this to be the case, Getafe would be awarded a 3-0 victory, and Madrid would be fined between €6,001 and €9,000.