OFFICIAL: Osasuna announce complaint against Barcelona for improper line-up

The Navarrese entity believes that Iñigo Martínez's participation in the match violates FIFA regulations.

Club Atlético Osasuna today filed an appeal with the Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for the improper fielding of FC Barcelona in last night's match at the Lluís Companys stadium. The club believes that footballer Iñigo Martínez's participation in yesterday's match violated Article 5 of Annex I of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, which specifies that a player who does not join his national team squad for medical reasons, or leaves the squad, may not play for his club for five calendar days following the end of the international period.

On March 17, the Royal Spanish Football Federation announced on its communication channels that footballer Iñigo Martínez had been removed from the squad for medical reasons, specifically due to "internal parameniscitis in his right knee, as reported in the report received from FC Barcelona." Similarly, that same day, the withdrawal of footballers Marc Casadó and Bryan Zaragoza from the Spanish national team was also announced for medical reasons. Zaragoza was the only one who joined the Spanish national team training camp to be evaluated by their medical services. It is evident that, in compliance with the aforementioned FIFA Regulations, neither of these players were eligible to participate in yesterday's matchday 27 of LaLiga EA Sports, as the deadlines established by the regulations were not met.

Since a medical leave is the justification for the withdrawal, as communicated by the RFEF itself, Club Atlético Osasuna believes that this case cannot be considered an exceptional situation that would render FIFA regulations inapplicable. The Navarrese club does consider the release of players Gerard Martín, Pablo Torre, and Fermín López from their second match with the Spanish Under-21 national team as a separate matter, as their withdrawal was not justified by a medical reason.

However, Club Atlético Osasuna believes that Iñigo Martínez, whose absence from the Spanish national team was due to a medical leave, was not eligible to play in yesterday's match in accordance with FIFA regulations. In light of this, the Navarrese club has decided to file an appeal for improper fielding in defense of his rights, the fairness of the competition, and the equality of all participants.