Real Madrid’s plea to delay their La Liga opener has been denied, forcing the club to play Osasuna despite minimal preseason preparation.
Madrid requested a delay for Matchday oneRFEF’s sole judge denied the appealLos Blancos return to training on August 4Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , Madrid’s formal request to delay their La Liga opener against Osasuna on August 19 has been rejected by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The club argued that they needed more time for preseason preparation following their involvement in the Club World Cup and a mandatory 21-day holiday break.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Los Blancos hoped to push their season start to Matchday two, citing a lack of adequate training time. However, RFEF’s sole referee for professional competitions, Jose Alberto Pelaez, ruled that the reasons provided didn’t meet the "force majeure" criteria. He noted that the Club World Cup was already scheduled and not an unforeseen event, and Madrid were never left with fewer than 11 available players.
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Xabi Alonso’s squad is set to resume training on August 4, but with the league opener on August 19, the club claimed they wouldn’t get the minimum three-week preparation window. Despite this, the judge emphasised that the three-week prep is not guaranteed under any collective agreement and that Madrid still had a full squad of 23 players. The appeal was dismissed, and the match will proceed as scheduled at Santiago Bernabeu.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?
Los Blancos now have 48 hours to submit an appeal to the National Appellate Committee. If that fails, the club can escalate the matter to the Spanish Court of Arbitration for Sport (CASA), however the chances of success remain slim based on the current ruling.
