Barcelona beat Osasuna 3-0 on Thursday in a one-sided affair, with goals from Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski sending them three points clear at the top of LaLiga
Osasuna are reportedly investigating whether Barcelona have broken FIFA rules by fielding a potentially ineligible player during Thursday’s clash between the sides. Barca centre-back Inigo Martinez played the full 90 minutes and helped his team to a resounding 3-0 win, despite withdrawing from Spain’s squad due to injury at the start of the international break.
But the result for Hansi Flick’s side, which sent them three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the LaLiga table, could be overturned if Osasuna successfully invoke Article 5 of FIFA’s rulebook. Spanish outlet Cadena COPE report that Osasuna’s legal team are considering challenging the result if they believe that Martinez, 33, was unfairly selected.
It’s explained that if a player misses or withdraws from their national team due to injury, they can’t play for their club for the five days following the last match of the international window – unless the national federation expressly releases the player. Spain beat the Netherlands on Sunday in their Nations League quarter-final, so only four days passed before Barcelona hosted Osasuna.
What could come into consideration is that the rescheduled date for the fixture – initially due to be played on March 8 – was only confirmed last Friday, giving both teams less than a week to prepare. By that time, Martinez had already withdrawn from the Spain squad because of a knock which he picked up against Atletico Madrid.
It must now be determined whether the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) granted permission for the former Athletic Bilbao defender to leave the national team. Barca are said to be confident that they’ll avoid any punishment such as a points deduction.
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Top-level clubs don’t usually play on a Thursday after the international break and the tight turnaround meant that Barcelona were without star man Raphinha. The Brazilian winger had played an entire match for his country in the early hours of Wednesday morning Spanish time, only arriving back in the city around 24 hours before kick-off following a long flight.
Barca were furious with LaLiga’s decision to rearrange the fixture for Thursday but a 3-0 victory was the perfect response. Early goals from Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo gave Flick’s men a comfortable lead before Robert Lewandowski, who turned out for Poland on Monday night, came off the bench to score his 23rd goal of the LaLiga season.
Post-match, defender Jules Kounde expressed his frustration over the rescheduling of the game, which had to be postponed earlier this month following the sudden death of Barcelona’s team doctor, Carles Minarro Garcia. ” I’m angry about the date. It is not something normal,” Kounde told DAZN.
“We have spoken many times about the calendar, we play too many games. I know there are people who don’t understand it. I consider myself lucky to live off our passion, but it’s a lack of respect and not only to the club.
“I’m also talking about Osasuna, who had players away on international duty too, like [Ante] Budimir, who I faced and who haven’t had the necessary rest. It doesn’t matter the club. Osasuna, Barcelona, Real Madrid… It is a lack of respect for the players, not only for the clubs.
“We are not machines and to produce our game and play a good game we need rest. All institutions – not just La Liga – have to understand this.”
Barca are back in action on Sunday, welcoming Catalan rivals Girona. They’ll then travel to face Atletico on Wednesday for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, with the scores 4-4 on aggregate.