Espanyol have filed a criticism towards Barcelona for fielding an ineligible lineup after Robert Lewandowski began Saturday’s Catalan derby.
Lewandowski, 34, was resulting from miss the sport as the primary of a three-match suspension however a Spanish court docket on Friday positioned the ban on maintain till Barca obtain a ultimate decision to an enchantment they lodged in December.
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The Poland striker performed all 90 minutes of the fixture at Camp Nou, which ended 1-1 and noticed each side finish the sport with 10 males after a fiery second half.
“Espanyol have submitted a written criticism to the Royal Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF) towards Barcelona for fielding an incorrect line-up,” an announcement from the LaLiga facet mentioned on Monday.
“Earlier than the beginning of the match, the membership notified the match referee, Mateu Lahoz, and the RFEF in regards to the presence of Lewandowski, who ought to have been fulfilling a suspension after his dismissal within the earlier league sport.
“We are going to use all of the assets we’ve to defend the membership’s pursuits. This flagrant injustice poses a danger to the essence of the competitors and is predicated on a hasty decision and clear authorized mishaps.”
Per the RFEF’s guidelines, fielding an ineligible lineup may end result within the three factors being awarded to the opposite staff along with a wonderful.
Barca will argue Lewandowski was obtainable for choice after revealing on Friday {that a} “dispute settlement court docket in Madrid issued a precautionary measure towards the suspension imposed by the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport.”
Lewandowski was despatched off for 2 bookable offences towards Osasuna in November, for which he obtained a one-game ban. He was handed a further two-match suspension for a gesture made in the direction of the referee as he left the pitch.
Barca appealed the sanction, saying the gesture was for coach Xavi Hernandez, not the referee.
In the meantime, Barca are nonetheless ready for the ultimate final result of their enchantment. They journey to Atletico Madrid in LaLiga on Sunday and do not but know if, when or what number of video games Lewandowski will sit out.
After drawing with Espanyol, they continue to be prime of LaLiga however at the moment are stage on factors with Actual Madrid.
