Real Madrid kicked out of Copa Del Rey after fielding ineligible player Denis Cheryshev

Rafa Benitez’s side are out of the competition in spite of winning 3-1

Real Madrid have been kicked out of the Copa Del Rey for fielding an ineligible player in their 3-1 win over Cadiz. 24-year-old Denis Cheryshev was selected and started the game for Real Madrid when he was actually supposed to serve a suspension.

The Russian international had accumulated too many yellow cards in the competition last season when he was on loan at Villarreal and was supposed to serve a ban. Suspensions in the Copa Del Rey carry forward to the next season and a new season doesn’t see players forgiven for their transgressions in the previous campaign. Florentino Perez had earlier said that the club would appeal any punishment meted out for fielding Cheryshev.

Cheryshev had scored as early as the third minute in the game to give the La Liga club the lead. But he was substituted after half-time when Rafa Benitez was made aware of the issue.

“We weren't told by Villarreal or the RFEF,” Benitez had said. “We knew nothing and we have substituted the player to show good faith."

Real Madrid has been kicked out of the Cup for fielding Cherishev

— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) December 4, 2015

Cadiz had no choice but to appeal

Cadiz, who play in the third tier of Spanish football, had no option but to appeal after the issue came to light. The club’s President Manuel Vizcaino had said they appealed out of “respect for the fans and the club”.

“This situation required a speedy decision because there was no time to speculate,” he had said.

“The board has met and decided to report Real Madrid for fielding an ineligible player, out of respect for our fans and the club.”

Rafa Benitez’s team has been disqualified before

This is not the first time Benitez’s team has been in trouble over breaking rules with respect to player selection. When he was Valencia boss in 2001, he had fielded one too many non-EU players when the club played Novelda. He had brought on Romanian player Dennis Serban as a substitute when they already had Pablo Aimar, Roberto Ayala (both Argentina) and Miroslav Dukic (Yugoslavia) on the pitch.

After the club fielded four foreigners, they fell foul of the rules and Valencia were kicked out after an appeal. But Benitez’s side did win La Liga that season, winning the league title with a seven-point lead.

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