There was a storm in La Liga recently when Osasuna FC attempted to legally challenge the legality of Barcelona’s use of a player, Inigo Martinez, in a league match, only to have it rejected outright by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). That said, Barcelona were not penalized in any way this time.
Osasuna question Martinez’s eligibility to play
It all started when 33-year-old Inigo Martinez started and played the entire match in Barcelona’s 3-0 win over Osasuna on March 27 this year. And only a few days ago, the defender withdrew from the Spanish national team’s training due to a knee injury. As a result, Osasuna felt he should not have represented the club so soon, questioning it as a violation of FIFA’s (International Federation of Football Association’s) rules regarding the call-up of players for the national team.
According to FIFA rules, if a player is called up by the national team but withdraws midway through the match due to injury, he should not return to play for his club for at least five days after the national team match unless there is a clear agreement between the national team and the club.
Match advancement causes rules controversy
Under normal circumstances, these types of issues rarely arise, as La Liga matches are usually scheduled on weekends. But the controversy has been sparked by the fact that this Barcelona v Osasuna match has been rescheduled for Thursday, timed to be stuck on the fourth day after the national team game.
The Spanish national team’s last game was against the Netherlands on March 23, while Martinez played for Barcelona on March 27, clearly not meeting the five-day waiting period set by FIFA.
FIFA backs Barcelona Reasonable appearances are not illegal
Despite Osasuna filing a formal complaint on the matter in an attempt to get themselves a possible three points through the FIFA, the RFEF reviewed the complaint after receiving it and announced on Friday that there was no problem with what Barcelona had done. Martinez was withdrawn from the national team in compliance with the regulations and was approved by the medical team.
In other words, the federation determined that the player was indeed unable to play for the national team due to injury, but that the recovery allowed him to play for his club, so there was no violation.
Osasuna is unconvinced and plans to continue its appeal
Despite the FA’s ruling, Osasuna are not going to stop there. They have publicly stated that they will continue to submit further appeals to the Spanish FA’s Appeals Committee in the hope of overturning the current decision.
In terms of the table, these three points mean a lot to Osasuna. They currently sit in 13th place in La Liga, just seven points above the relegation zone. If they can finally get the winning penalty in this game, it will greatly improve their chances of relegation.
Martinez has been a steady performer this season and is a favorite of his coach.
Whether the controversy continues to fester or not, Inigo Martinez himself has been impeccable. He has started 38 games in all competitions since joining Barcelona and has been a major force in the back line. Particularly in tandem with young center back Paulo Kubalsi, he has given the team a solid performance on the defensive end.
Head coach Hans Frick has been even more appreciative of Martinez. In a recent press conference, he didn’t mince his words of praise:
“Inigo is the kind of center back who can retreat into the defense and is very solid. He’s gradually adapted to our high pressing tactics and what he’s doing now is truly amazing.”
Flick also singled out Martinez as not only technically reliable on the team, but also a spiritual leader:
“He always takes the lead to boost morale in the locker room, and even drives other players with his actions on the field. He is not afraid of hard work and is a role model for young players to follow. I am really lucky to have such a player.”
Summary: The storm has ended for the time being, and Barcelona can ride out the storm.
Barcelona can breathe a sigh of relief for the time being. The controversy doesn’t look like a real threat to them, and at least in the first round of scrutiny, they won the FA’s support. However, it remains to be seen whether there will be subsequent changes as Osasuna continue to appeal.
As for Inigo Martinez, he has proved his worth with consistent performances and remains an indispensable member of the team, regardless of the controversies out there. In the coming rounds, his play will undoubtedly continue to be an important guarantee for Barcelona’s title bid.
