Osasuna is subject to: Barcelona is allowed to use Iñigo Martínez!

Osasuna is subject to: Barcelona is allowed to use Iñigo Martínez!

Pamplona, Spanien - On April 11, 2025, the Club Atlético Osasuna suffered a defeat in a remarkable legal dispute against FC Barcelona. The dispute revolves around the authorization of defenders Iñigo Martínez, who was set up on March 27 in a played game, although Osasuna argues that the player was not eligible to play due to medical problems. Barcelona won the game 3-0, and the accusations of Osasuna refer to the non-compliance with the FIFA rules for the status and transfer of players.

OSASUNA made an application to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) competition committee and claimed that the use of Martínez violated Article 5 of Appendix I of FIFA rules. According to these regulations, a player who was withdrawn by the national team for medical reasons must not play for his club within five days after the end of the international period. The RFEF confirmed that Martínez was withdrawn from the squad of the Spanish national team for medical reasons, specifically because of an "internal paramensicitis in the right knee".

reaction of the RFEF and Osasunas plans

Although Osasuna received the rejection of her complaint, the RFEF made it clear that she had issued Martínez a certificate of discharge, which implied that he was eligible to play according to the FIFA rules. Osasuna contradicts this view and calls for a new review of her claims. The association argues that there were no evidence of an exception or non -application of the rule in the public explanations of the RFEF and the communications to the clubs.

Osasuna has now decided to make an appeal to the appeal committee to defend the rights of the association and ensure fair competitive conditions. In addition, the association points out that similar withdrawals from other players were not medically determined, which shows the comparability of the rule application.

background and FIFA rules

This argument does not come as a surprise, since FIFA regularly makes changes to the regulations in order to offer football organizations clear guidelines worldwide. In the 2022 edition of the Legal Handbook , FIFA has updated, among other things, the regulations on the status and transfers of players. These rules are crucial for compliance with fairness and transparency in competition, especially in controversial cases such as that between Osasuna and Barcelona.

The situation continues to be observed, since both clubs have to make a fair decision and the RFEF must ensure clarity in their role as regulatory authority. Osasuna has underlined that the integrity of the competition is of the greatest importance and that they are willing to take all legal steps to ensure that all teams play under the same conditions.

In a sport that is often shaped by controversial decisions, it remains to be seen how this case is solved and what effects this will have on the clubs involved and the league as a whole. The Al Jazera reported that the decision about the complaint from Osasuna has already been announced and the next steps of the association are now of crucial importance.