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December 4, 2015

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Real on brink amid Cadiz Copa appeal

REAL Madrid edged closer to the Copa del Rey exit door yesterday after third division Cadiz appealed its midweek defeat because the capital giant had inadvertently fielded a suspended player.

Cadiz confirmed yesterday that having been given the green light by Spanish football authorities overnight, it had launched an appeal.

In the first leg of its fourth-round tie on Wednesday Russian international Denis Cheryshev not only started the match but opened the scoring in Real’s 3-1 win.

But he shouldn’t have been on the field as he was due to serve a one-match ban in the Copa after picking up three yellow cards whilst on loan at Villarreal last season.

In its statement Cadiz claimed that it was sorry things had come to this pass saying “we reaffirm our respect for Real Madrid and to their fans, we will make no comment on the matter but leave it to the authorities to decide how to settle it.”

Spanish rules are clear, Cheryshev should have been banned for the match. Last season Spanish football saw second division Osasuna booted out of the Copa in an almost identical case.

As soon as Real realized its error on Wednesday it substituted the player and claims that neither the authorities nor Villarreal had warned it.

“Clearly we didn’t know. Villarreal and the federation hadn’t warned us,” said Madrid boss Rafael Benitez. “When we knew we substituted him to show good faith.”

Real Madrid director of institutional relations Emilio Butragueno also laid the blame at the Spanish Football Federation and Villarreal for not informing Real of the ban.

“I also want to say that Cheryshev himself didn’t know of any possible ban,” he said.

The competition committee is expected to give its ruling today.

The second leg of the match was due to be played in Madrid on December 16.

In an earlier match, a hat trick and an assist by Sandro Ramirez helped Barcelona to a comfortable 6-1 victory over Villanovense.

Their first-leg clash had finished goalless.


 

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