Barcelona's 3-0 Victory Over Osasuna Faces Potential Overturn After Registration Controversy
Yesterday's La Liga clash between FC Barcelona and CA Osasuna, which saw the Catalans cruise to a comfortable 3-0 win, may be heading for an unprecedented off-pitch drama. According to Marca, Osasuna's legal team is preparing an official protest over Iñigo Martínez's eligibility, potentially putting the result in jeopardy.
The controversy stems from FIFA Regulation Article 5, which states that players injured during international duty cannot feature for their clubs within five days after their national team's final match - unless formally released by their federation. Martínez was called up by Spain for UEFA Nations League matches but withdrew due to injury, with the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) confirming his unavailability.
Here's the crux: Spain played their last match against Netherlands on Sunday, March 23, 2025 - meaning the five-day window hadn't expired when Martínez started against Osasuna on Wednesday. The Pamplona-based club is now demanding proof of formal release from RFEF, with potential sanctions ranging from fines to a forfeited 3-0 victory in their favor.