Osasuna is considering filing a formal complaint against Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez’s participation in Thursday’s 3-0 La Liga victory.
Inigo was scheduled to play for Spain during the recent international break, but was ruled out due to a muscle injury.
Osasuna will base its complaint on FIFA’s rule regarding the period of absence from the national team following injury, which is five days after the last match of the international break.
Spain played the Netherlands in the second leg of the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals last Sunday, so the Basque defender cannot play before next Saturday.
Osasuna will request that Barcelona be deemed a forfeiter and that the three points be awarded to the visitors at the Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys due to this legal loophole.
According to Marca, the Spanish Football Federation believes Barcelona’s position is legal because the player was officially excluded from the squad early and withdrew.
The full picture should become clearer if Osasuna’s management decides to go ahead and file a formal complaint in this regard, although most reports suggest that it will be fruitless and that Barcelona’s position is extremely strong.
