Barcelona defeated Osasuna 3-0 on Thursday in a one-sided affair, with goals from Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski who clearly send them three points to the top of Laliga
Osasuna is reportedly investigating whether Barcelona has violated the FIFA rules by playing a potential non -close player during Thursday's collision between the parties. Barca Center-Back Inigo Martinez played the full 90 minutes and helped his team to a thunderous 3-0 win, despite the withdrawal from the Spain's team due to an injury at the start of the international break.
But the result in front of Hansi Flick, who sent them three points of Real Madrid at the top of the Liga table, could be destroyed if Osasuna successfully calls Article 5 of the Rulebook of FIFA. The Spanish Outlet Cadena Cope reports that the legal team of Osasuna is considering challenging the result if they believe that Martinez, 33, had been selected unfairly.
It is explained that if a player misses because of injury or withdraws from his national team, they cannot play for their club during the five days after the last match of the international window – unless the National Federation explicitly releases the player. Spain defeated the Netherlands on Sunday in their quarterfinals of the Nations League, so only four days before Barcelona organized Osasuna.
What could be eligible is that the re -planned date for the fixture – initially because of played on March 8 – was only confirmed last Friday, making both teams less than a week to prepare. By that time, Martinez had already withdrawn from the Spain team because of a knock he grabbed against Atletico Madrid.
It must now be determined whether the Spanish football federation (RFEF) has given permission to the former Athletic Bilbao defender to leave the national team. Barca is said to be sure that they will avoid any punishment such as a point deduction.
Clubs at the top level usually do not play on a Thursday after the international break and the tight turning point meant that Barcelona was without a star man Raphinha. The Brazilian winger had played a whole game for his country in the early hours of the Spanish era of Wednesday morning and arrived only 24 hours before the start after a long flight to the city.
Barca was furious with Laliga's decision to rearrange the fixture for Thursday, but a 3-0 win was the perfect response. Early goals from Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo gave Flick's men a comfortable lead for Robert Lewandowski, who turned out to be on Monday evening for Poland, came from the bank to score his 23rd goal of the LaLiga season.
Barca will be back in action on Sunday and welcomes Catalan Rivals Girona. They will then travel to Atletico for the second stage of their Copa del Rey Semi-Final, with the 4-4 scores in total.
Comments