Barcelona’s seemingly routine 3-0 triumph over Osasuna on Thursday night should have been a straightforward moment of celebration. After all, goals from Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski, and Ferran Torres had propelled the Catalan giants three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. Yet, beneath the surface of this comfortable win, an unexpected controversy is brewing — and it could hand Real Madrid a significant boost in the title race.
One of the key elements behind the win was the return of an important defender who helped stabilize a Barcelona backline stretched by injuries and fatigue. However, questions are now being asked about whether he should have even been on the pitch at all, placing the Blaugrana’s hard-earned three points in jeopardy.
The center of the storm is Inigo Martinez, a veteran defender who started the match despite having recently pulled out of Spain’s squad during the international break due to a knee injury. According to multiple Spanish outlets, including Diario SPORT, Osasuna are considering filing an official complaint, arguing that Lamine Yamal‘s side may have broken FIFA’s Article 5 regulations concerning player eligibility after injury withdrawals from international duty.
The regulation in question is clear: a player who withdraws from a national team due to injury cannot feature for his club for five days after the conclusion of the last international fixture, unless cleared by the national federation. Spain played their final UEFA Nations League quarter–final match on March 23, which means Martinez, by the letter of the rule, would have been ineligible to play until March 28. However, he featured in the starting lineup on March 27, one day too early.
“We are going to ask the RFEF [Spanish Football Federation] for clarification on whether Martinez had the proper authorization to play,” sources from Osasuna’s camp told Diario SPORT, signaling their intent to pursue the matter.
Why Martinez played and why Barcelona may be confident
The 33-year-old’s return was crucial for Hansi Flick’s depleted squad. Ronald Araujo was late to return from Uruguay duty, and Pau Cubarsi was sidelined through injury, leaving the manager short of defensive options. Martinez, who resumed training on Monday, was paired with Eric Garcia to help secure a clean sheet. His leadership and experience were vital in the win.
The Catalan giants, however, appear calm about the situation. Former club director and lawyer Toni Freixa told Cadena COPE, “There’s no legal basis for Osasuna’s claim to succeed.” According to Freixa, the club is confident that the RFEF did grant the necessary approval, even if it was not made public.
High stakes: Real Madrid watching closely
Should Los Rojillos’ complaint hold up under scrutiny, Barcelona could face severe consequences, including losing the match by default. This would mean the 3-0 win would be overturned and awarded to Osasuna, stripping the home side of the three points and potentially reshaping the La Liga title race.
SurveyWhat do you think should be the consequence if Barcelona is found guilty of fielding Martinez illegally?
What do you think should be the consequence if Barcelona is found guilty of fielding Martinez illegally?
The scenario would definitely not go unnoticed in Madrid, where Carlo Ancelotti‘s men are locked in a fierce battle with their eternal rivals. A points deduction or forfeiture could significantly tilt the momentum back towards Los Blancos with only 10 league games left in the season.
