Real Madrid face expulsion from the Spanish Kings Cup knockout football competition after fielding an ineligible player in their third round first leg tie away to Cadiz.
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“The club didn’t know anything beforehand”.
Real Madrid edged closer to the Spanish Cup exit door Thursday after third-division Cadiz appealed their midweek defeat because the capital giants had inadvertently fielded a suspended player.
A complaint was raised against Cheryshev’s inclusion in the side for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey game after it was claimed he should have served a suspension which was accrued last season during his loan spell with Villarreal.
Osasuna were removed from this season’s Copa Del Rey in September after fielding Unai Garcia – who had been sent off against Alaves last season – in a 2-1 victory win over Mirandes.
But it could be worth nothing after Cadiz President Manolo Vizcaino confirmed after the game that his club would appeal against the result.
And Benitez had a similar experience while managing Valencia in 2001.
Real director Emilio Butragueno said the club’s fate now lay with a judge. It is a club responsibility that has to be solved and we wait to see what happens. “We weren’t told by the federation or Villarreal”.
‘If the player is not notified of his sanction, as article 41 states, then the sanction is not in effect’.
Fran Canal, the club’s legal adviser, said: “We will respect Real Madrid, but our fans and our members always want the best for Cadiz. We do this with pained heart because Madrid are a friend”.
“I spoke with people from Real Madrid during the match and nobody said anything about it. We’ve looked at the rules and made a decision accordingly, but it was a tough one to make”.
“This morning we have received communication from the RFEF that the letter has been received and they have given a deadline to Real Madrid to present the arguments they deem appropriate.
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We were not informed by either Villarreal or the Royal Spanish Football Federation and when we were notified, we took him off to show good faith”, Benitez told Real’s official website.
