The RFEF clears up doubts about Iñigo Martínez's call-up against Osasuna

The controversy raised by Osasuna after the match on Thursday against FC Barcelona (3-0) regarding the alleged improper alignment of Iñigo Martínez does not seem to have much traction in the offices of LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The highest body of Spanish football has already made it clear that, contrary to the claim of the Navarrese team, the Barça center-back was released by the National Team before the FIFA date, so there are no reasons to declare an improper alignment in the match corresponding to matchday 27 of LaLiga.

Iñigo was sidelined due to an internal meniscus injury in his right knee sustained in the match against Atlético de Madrid (2-4) played on Sunday, March 16. One day later, the RFEF validated the medical report from Barça, which led Luis de la Fuente to call up Dean Huijsen instead of the culé '5'. Spain played on Thursday the 20th and Sunday the 23rd against the Netherlands, both matches played by the Bournemouth defender.

Although it was initially thought that the Basque would be out for about two weeks, he returned to training last Monday and was able to play without issues on Thursday. This raised suspicions in Osasuna, especially since Martínez, unlike Bryan Zaragoza (also sidelined with La Roja due to injury), did not go to the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas to confirm his absence during the FIFA date.

The FIFA regulations and the RFEF support Barça

Iñigo, on the other hand, returned to Catalonia directly from Madrid after the match at the Metropolitano, relying on the medical report sent by the club. The RFEF gave the 'ok' to his absence, so there are no reasons to claim improper alignment. The FIFA rule does not allow counting on internationals who have been called up by their national team until five days after the last match played during the break.

Hence, Osasuna claims that Barça "did not comply with the established deadlines," since the match on Thursday was played only four days after the Spain-Netherlands match in Mestalla. However, the rule clarifies that, if the player is expressly released by the corresponding federation (the RFEF, in this case), the established deadlines do not apply. Therefore, Iñigo Martínez was eligible to play in the rescheduled match of matchday 27 of LaLiga.