The Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, insists the club will fight any sanctions for fielding an ineligible player in the Copa del Rey victory over Cadiz on Wednesday night.
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Russian Federation winger Denis Cheryshev started in the fourth-round tie away to Cadiz despite being suspended after picking up a third yellow card in the semi-finals of last season’s competition.
“We found out at half-time and took him off then as we wanted to do the right thing”, Real coach Rafa Benitez said.
Real Madrid have suffered the ignominy of being expelled from Spanish football’s cup competition, the Copa Del Rey for fielding a suspended player.
Even before the decision Real Madrid have already announced that, if it’s to go the wrong way for Los Blancos, they would take the case to the Committee of Appeals.
“The outcome of the Copa del Rey [tie] has consequently been decided in favour of Cadiz, with an additional fine of €6,001 for Madrid as per article 76 of the disciplinary code of the RFEF”.
Speaking at a press conference, Perez said: “We received nothing, no note, nothing from the RFEF”.
Nevertheless, Madrid’s director of institutional relations, Emilio Butragueno, is hopeful the Santiago Bernabeu side might escape such punishment because Cheryshev did not receive notification.
“Nobody told the club or the player, not the federation nor Villarreal, so it was impossible for us to act differently”. Last year, however, the club tested its fans who had become accustomed to winning when it watched rivals Barcelona sweep all three major trophies, including the Copa del Rey, Champions League and La Liga titles.
“Villarreal are quiet, we have no responsibility”.
Real Madrid realized the mistake before halftime, and Cheryshev was taken out of the game.
Marca earlier reported Real Madrid will appeal to the RFEF and if necessary to Spain’s sport court, TAD.
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“We have [Tomas] Pina in the same situation, sanctioned in the same game and he has not played [against Huesca on Thursday]”.
