August 6 – Real Madrid have had both of their attempts to delay their LaLiga opener against Osasuna on August 19 turned down.
Real wanted to delay the fixture following their involvement in this summer’s Club World Cup to give their players more rest and preparation before the new season start.
First, the request was rejected by the Spanish FA’s (RFEF) Competitions Committee’s Sole Judge on July 31, and then again by the RFEF’s Second Instance Committee.
With no further options in the sports legal system, Madrid now only have one path left: taking the matter to civil court system as they can no longer appeal to either the Administrative Sports Tribunal (TAD) or the Higher Sports Council (CSD).
Since December 2022, Article 117 of Spanish sports legislation requires disputes over competition matters to go through civil courts instead of the old sports bodies. The same rule will soon apply to disciplinary cases as well.
The RFEF ruling insisted the Madrid squad is big enough to deal with any build-up of fixtures and, given the Club World Cup was scheduled well in advance, Los Blancos could have taken more steps to prepare for the new season if they truly felt they were necessary.
“I believe that they will have 20 days to rest instead of 21 and no other leagues like the Premier League for Chelsea or the French Ligue 1 for PSG are changing the games,” La Liga president Javier Tebas said of the controversy earlier this summer.
“So I don’t believe that we should change the calendar for that reason, especially thinking that it’s a matter of one day.”
Osasuna have shown far more sympathy. The club’s long-serving goalkeeper Sergio Herrera told El Larguero: “The club and the players were willing to help Real Madrid, and it wasn’t a problem to lend a hand to our teammates because there might not be enough time for rest and preparation for the match.”
Real Madrid have 12 days to file their case in civil court. The goal would be to pause the federation’s decision while the court reviews it.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1754489382labto1754489382ofdlr1754489382owedi1754489382sni@g1754489382niwe.1754489382yrrah1754489382