"Iñigo Martínez Case Resolved: The RFEF Sides with Barça"

The Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has resolved this Friday the file opened for the alleged improper alignment of Iñigo Martínez, presented by Osasuna after the league match on March 27.

The ruling is clear: there is no infringement by FC Barcelona, ​​since the player's withdrawal process was carried out correctly and in accordance with the regulations.

Osasuna had appealed to FIFA regulations

The Navarrese entity presented its claim on March 28, relying on article 5 of Annex 1 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of FIFA Players. It specifies that a player called up with his national team cannot play matches with his club during the release period, plus an additional margin of five days, unless the corresponding federation authorizes it.

The key: federation authorization and injury

However, after analyzing all the documentation provided by the parties involved, the disciplinary body has determined that Iñigo Martínez's withdrawal was managed regularly. The Barça central defender was withdrawn on Monday, March 17 due to injury, with the approval of the RFEF, which allowed him to rejoin FC Barcelona without violating the regulations.

This procedure was identical to that followed with Bryan Zaragoza, an Osasuna player, who also left the national team concentration that same day due to physical discomfort. Despite the fact that Zaragoza did not participate in his team's next match, the administrative process of his withdrawal was identical to that of Iñigo.

The FIFA regulations themselves support Barça

The interpretation of the article in question, as explained by federal sources and the Barça club, also clarifies that the extension of the five days does not apply in cases in which the withdrawal occurs due to injury. Furthermore, the FIFA text itself exempts this obligation as long as it is demonstrated that the player's release is due to a physical problem, as occurred with Iñigo Martínez.

End to the controversy

With this official pronouncement, Barça is free from any type of sanction or disciplinary measure. The club can consider closed an episode that has generated controversy in recent days and that is now filed without consequences. The Committee has considered the actions of the Blaugrana entity valid and has rejected Osasuna's protest in all its terms.