Appeal supports Barça and rejects Osasuna's complaint for improper alignment of Iñigo Martínez

The Appeals Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has dismissed the appeal filed by CA Osasuna last April, in relation to an alleged improper alignment of Iñigo Martínez in the match that crossed the Navarre team and FC Barcelona on March 27 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, corresponding to the postponed matchday of LaLiga EA Sports. The match ended with a resounding 3-0 victory for the culé team.

The origin of the claim: Iñigo Martínez's medical leave with the national team

The claim of CA Osasuna was based on the fact that Iñigo Martínez should not have played that match, since he had been de-called days before by the Spanish national team for medical reasons. The defender, initially called up by Luis de la Fuente to play in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League against the Netherlands, was discharged on March 17 due to an internal parameniscitis in his right knee.

The Navarre team argued that the player did not respect the mandatory period of inactivity stipulated in article 5 of Annex I of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of FIFA Players, which establishes that a player who is medically discharged by his national team cannot face commitments with his club during the five calendar days following the end of the international period, unless the federation expressly authorizes it.

Iñigo's rapid recovery: key to the controversy

Despite his absence with the national team, Iñigo Martínez recovered quickly and was a starter with Barcelona just ten days later, forming a partnership in the back with the young Eric García against CA Osasuna. This situation generated discomfort in the 'rojillo' team, which considered that the regulatory deadlines were not respected.

The arguments of the Appeals Committee

The Appeals Committee has been forceful in its resolution and has rejected all the points alleged by CA Osasuna. In the first place, it considers that the participation of the Basque defender does not constitute improper alignment, since, legally, the player's call-up with the national team was no longer in force after his official detachment on March 17.

In turn, Appeal indicates that there was no obligation for the RFEF to request an additional medical review, since it accepted as valid the reports sent by the azulgrana club. Even, they cite that article 4 of Annex I of the FIFA Regulations only obliges the player to undergo a medical examination if the convening federation expressly requests it.

"Since the RFEF did not request a medical examination and accepted the medical reports of FC Barcelona as valid, there can be no talk of any infraction", the ruling states.

Likewise, it is pointed out that the Head of the Medical Services of the RFEF himself acknowledged that in similar cases the federation has admitted medical reports without the need for a direct examination, based on the existing trust with the medical teams of the clubs.

Official de-call, a determining element

The Appeals Committee argues that the de-call of Iñigo Martínez was effective and official, based on:

• An email from the Team Manager of the Spanish national team sent on March 17.
• A statement published on the official website of the RFEF that same day.
• The substitution of the player in the call-up by including another footballer (Dean Huijsen).

With these elements, it is concluded that the "five-day rule" of article 5 of the FIFA regulations was not applicable, since the legal effects of the call-up ceased at the moment of the formal de-call.

All points of Osasuna's appeal rejected

In its writing, CA Osasuna had structured its claim in five axes:

1. Alleged deficiencies in the processing of the player's medical leave.
2. Lack of medical tests performed by the RFEF.
3. Legal inefficiency of the de-call.
4. Discrimination with respect to similar cases (citing Bryan Zaragoza or Nico Williams).
5. Alleged violation of Spanish regulations on medical leave.

Appeal rejected these arguments one by one and recalled that the RFEF has full discretion to accept or not the medical reports of a club, and that in this case there are no indications of arbitrariness or fraud. In addition, it concludes that it cannot be validly argued that there was improper alignment, given that Iñigo Martínez was not subject to any regulatory restriction.