Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Barca escape Copa expulsion after federation rejects Levante complaint

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona will remain in the Copa del Rey after the Spanish football federation (RFEF) said on Friday it had rejected Levante's complaint that the Catalan side fielded an ineligible player.

Barca escape Copa expulsion after federation rejects Levante complaint
(Reuters)

Levante said that Barca had played defender Juan ‘Chumi’ Brandariz in last week's Copa del Rey last-16, first-leg game, which Levante won 2-1, when he was supposed to be serving a suspension.

A statement from the federation said the head of the competition, Carmen Perez, had rejected Levante's complaint because it arrived after the 48-hour deadline.

"After studying the complaint and the corresponding allegations, the head of the competition has decided to maintain the result of the tie and keep Barcelona in the quarter-final draw," the federation said.

Levante said in a statement that they will appeal the decision.

Barca, who have won the last four editions of the Copa del Rey and have lifted the trophy a record 30 times, won Thursday's second leg 3-0 at the Nou Camp for a 4-2 aggregate win.

Ernesto Valverde's side will face Sevilla, who they thrashed 5-0 in last year's final, in the quarter-finals following the draw, which was made shortly after the federation announced it had rejected Levante's complaint.

The federation's decision means Barca escape the fate of Real Madrid, who were thrown out of the 2015-16 Copa del Rey for playing Denis Cheryshev in a last-32 game against Cadiz when he was supposed to be serving a suspension from the previous season when he played for Villarreal.

(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)


2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world