BARCELONA could reportedly be investigated for fielding an ineligible player during their 3-0 win over Osasuna on Thursday.
According to reports in Spain, Osasuna are “considering challenging the match” due to the selection of centre-back Inigo Martinez.
Martinez, 33, played the full 90 minutes in the La Liga clash despite withdrawing from international duty with Spain the week prior.
The former Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad defender withdrew from Luis de la Fuente's squad after a medical report from Barcelona detailed that he was suffering from a knee injury, as per a statement from the Spanish national team.
Martinez was then replaced in the Spain squad by Bournemouth‘s Dean Huijsen.
Now Spanish outlet COPE have reported that Osasuna are “currently investigating” if Martinez's inclusion in the La Liga tie breaches Article 5 of Fifa‘s rulebook.
A rule within that article effectively stipulates that any player who withdraws from international break with injury cannot play for their club within the five days following their nation's last international match – unless explicitly agreed by the national federation.
That could spell trouble for Martinez, who featured against Osasuna just four days after Spain's Nations League second leg against Netherlands on Sunday.
Now Barcelona could face punishment if found to have breached the regulations.
A points deduction or a reversal of the result have both been touted as potential punishments.
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That could have a detrimental impact on Barca's season after the win over Osasuna sent them three points clear of rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
While Osasuna are desperate for points as they sit just one point above the relegation zone.
For now, it is unclear if the Spanish FA granted permission for Martinez to withdraw from the camp or not.
While the last-minute nature of the match could also be a mitigating factor for the 27-time La Liga champions.
Both Barcelona and Osasuna were given less than a week to prepare for the match after the fixture was rescheduled to Thursday night from it's original date of March 8 last Friday, following the sudden death of Barcelona club doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.
What does Article 5 say?
Here's a look at the working of Annex 1 of the regulations on the status and transfer of players...
“A player who, due to injury or illness, is unable to attend a call-up of the association of the country of his or her nationality, must, if requested by that association, undergo a medical examination by a doctor designated by the association.
“If the player so wishes, such medical examination will be carried out in the territory of the association where he or she is registered.
“A player called up by his association for one of its representative teams is not entitled, unless otherwise agreed by the association concerned, to play for the club to which he belongs during the period that his release lasts or should last, in accordance with the provisions of this Annex, plus an additional period of five days.”
