Real Madrid disqualified from cup over ineligible player

Real Madrid have been expelled from this season’s Copa del Rey after fielding an ineligible player in their game against third tier Cadiz, according to a number of reports from Spain on Friday afternoon.

Cheryshev opened the scoring in the third minute of Real’s fourth-round first-leg tie at Estadio Ramon de Carranza, but the Russian Federation global should not have been on the pitch after failing to serve a suspension for receiving three yellow cards with former club Villarreal last season.

With Perez claiming that Denis Cheryshev was not notified, Real Madrid will definitely appeal any sanctions placed on them.

“The ban for Cheryshev while a player for Villarreal is not effective as far as we are concerned as nobody had informed the player”, Perez told a news conference.

Real manager Rafael Benitez substituted the player after only 40 seconds in the second half and said management wasn’t aware of the ban.

Real are now expected to appeal the decision because club president Florentino Perez doesn’t believe Los Blancos to have broken any rules.

The winger received a three yellow cards in last season’s competition while on-loan at Villareal which automatically translates to a one-match ban.

Cheryshev also said that Villarreal did not notify him that he had been suspended from playing in the first game of the 2015 Copa del Rey.

“I spoke to the Federation on Wednesday and we will see what happens”.

He explained: “We actually have a match delegate who is responsible for the line-ups and the referees, and actually checking if there are any suspensions, so I’m sure he’ll be blamed”.

Cadiz confirmed on Wednesday they had made a complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) regarding Cheryshev’s involvement. Real Madrid has been given a deadline to give their clarification on the issue.

“If there had been any negligence by anyone, any notification that had gone astray or anyone who had not acted correctly, we would acknowledge that and we would apologise and we would take the measures we have to take”.