The top court for sports in Spain has rejected Real Madrid’s appeal against their exclusion from the Copa del Rey this season.
Los Blancos were thrown out of the competition last month after they fielded Denis Cheryshev in the first leg of their tie with Cadiz. The Russian, who scored in that 3-1 win that night, was supposed to be serving a one-match ban for picking up three yellow cards while on loan at Villarreal last season.
Madrid were thrown out of the competition but appealed to Spain’s Tribunal Administrativo del Deporte (TAD), which on Monday ruled that the 10-time Champions League winners has indeed fielded an improper line-up. The court said in the written ruling that it’s decision was final.
In a statement published on the club’s official website, Real said they did not agree with the decision and would be exploring other legal avenues.
It read: “The Administrative Court of Sport has dismissed the appeal made by Real Madrid C. F. concerning the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary decisions in relation to the Copa del Rey round of 32 first-leg tie.
“The club respects but does not agree with the Court’s ruling and as such announces its decision to pursue a judicial-administrative course of action, along with other possible legal options, which are currently being studied.”
