The Spanish FA's Competition Committee judge, Francisco Rubio Sánchez has confirmed that they have ejected Real Madrid from the Copa Del Rey after the club fielded ineligible Denis Cheryshev during the Round of 32 match against fourth division side Cádiz CF.
Bad Situation
Los Biancos have been disqualifed from the tournament after which the Russian player played the entire first half of the Copa Del Rey match against the side from Andalusia, following what was a 3-1 win for the visting side with a brace by Isco and a goal from Cheryshev.
The 24-year-old was taken off from the match moments after half-time when the club had realised their error, with head coach Rafael Benitez saying they wanted to "show good faith".
The club have also been handed a 6,000 euro fine for fielding Cheryshev when he was ineligible to play. Real Madrid have announced that they will appeal the decision, first before the RFEF Appeals Committee and then, if necessary, before the Spanish Sports Tribunal.
Unaware
Club president Florentino Pérez has spoken about the situation in a press conference at the Santiago Bernabeu the following day to the media in which he stated that he was not aware that they were fielding an ineligible player and that it was "not applicable" because Cheryshev had "not been personally notified."
"We did not have any knowledge nor did the player of his own suspension. No one knew," Perez said. "After an analysis with the board of directors, we have decided that the suspension for three yellow cards was not effective because no one communicated it to the player as per Article 41."
Nevertheless, the expulsion occured and Real Madrid has been knocked out of the Round of 32 of the Copa Del Rey for the first time since the 2009-10 season under Manuel Pellegrini.