Real could be kicked out of Spanish Cup
REAL MADRID insist they have done nothing wrong amid calls for them to be kicked out of the Spanish Cup for fielding a suspended player.
Denis Cheryshev started and scored for Real in their 3-1 win at Cadiz on Wednesday despite carrying over a one-match ban from last season when he was on loan at Villarreal.
However, Real president Florentino Perez yesterday insisted that the suspension either did not count or was not administered properly.
Arguing the ban was ‘not applicable’ because Cheryshev had ‘not been personally notified’, Perez added: ‘Nobody told the club or the player (about the ban) — not the FA nor Villarreal — so it was impossible for us to act differently. it’s not our fault.’
He also claimed that according to his club’s interpretation of the competition rules, previous bookings are voided at the start of the round of 32. However, reports in Spain claim the rule is intended to only be applied to lower-division teams that play previous rounds before top-flight teams enter in the round of 32.
Cadiz filed an objection after the match and the Spanish FA’s competition committee are expected to give their ruling today.
Russia winger Cheryshev, who was making a rare start, scored madrid’s first goal of the 3-1 win before being substituted by underfire head coach Rafa Benitez early in the second half.
in 2001-02, Benitez’s Valencia side were disqualified from the Spanish Cup for fielding too many non-eU players in a match.
This September, Osasuna were kicked out of the competition and fined for selecting Unai Garcia in their 2-1 win against mirandes. He also carried over a suspension from last season.