Burgos file complaint over alleged ineligible Valencia line-up | OneFootball

Burgos have lodged a complaint accusing Valencia of fielding an ineligible player in the Copa del Rey tie at El Plantío. Valencia advanced to the quarter-finals, with Umar Sadiq scoring the second, his first for the club this season.

The club have sent a written complaint to the RFEF Competition Committee, arguing that Sadiq had already played in the competition for Real Sociedad. Cadena SER reports that Burgos contend he featured for both clubs in the same season and the same competition, with no exceptional cause to permit it.

The document, signed by president Alejandro Ariel Grandinetti, states the Nigerian played the 1/44 and 1/32 rounds, though the text contains an error, as it should read 1/64.

Burgos ask for article 5.5 of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players to apply, which bars players from appearing in official matches for more than two clubs in the same season within the same national league or cup. They argue Sadiq’s inclusion breaches that restriction.

Valencia have responded with indignation and filed counter-arguments, maintaining there is no distinction between participation in cup ties and any league fixture. There is complete calm over the outcome at the club, and privately the complaint is viewed as ridiculous, unfounded and surprising.

A recent precedent sees Javi Galán playing the third round for Atlético then featuring for Osasuna on Tuesday, a scenario described as identical to Sadiq’s. The quarter-final draw is on Monday and Valencia are, in principle, set to be in the pot.

Source: AS