Real Madrid disqualified from Copa del Rey over fielding Denis Cheryshev despite being suspended

Cheryshev should not have been playing after serving a suspension handed out during a loan spell with Villarreal last season

Denis Cheryshev scored the opening goal against Cadiz despite being suspended (Getty Images)

Real Madrid have been disqualified from the Copa del Rey after fielding Denis Cheryshev in the 3-1 cup victory over Cadiz on Wednesday night, despite the winger being suspended.

Cheryshev, who scored the opening goal for Real as they progressed to the last-16, was supposed to be suspended after picking up three yellow cards for Villarreal during a loan spell last season.

However, Real claimed they were unaware of the suspension and substituted the Russian immediately once they found out about the situation. Cheryshev was replaced shortly after half-time, but he had already given Real a 1-0 lead by that point.

Denis Cheryshev gives Real Madrid the lead against Cadiz (Getty Images)

Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez immediately substituted Denis Cheryshev when he learned of the suspension (Getty Images)

Once it became common knowledge that Cheryshev should not have been playing in the match, Cadiz lodged a formal complaint with the Spanish Football Association, although Real pleaded their innocence with club president Florentino Perez insisting they will fight any sanction imposed of them because they took the player off “in good faith”.

“The one-match ban for three yellow cards in our view is not effective because no-one has notified the player as specified in item 41.2 of the disciplinary code of the RFEF,” Perez said on Thursday.

However, previous incidents of a similar nature has seen Osasuna kicked out of the tournament in September this year, while Valencia were disqualified in 2001 for fielding too many non-EU players –under Rafa Benitez’s reign at the Mestalla.