Real Madrid face Cup exit for playing ineligible player

Real Madrid face expulsion from the Spanish Kings Cup knockout football competition after fielding an ineligible player in their third round first leg tie away to Cadiz.

The club started the game on Wednesday night with Dens Cheryshev in their starting 11 despite the fact the Russian was suspended for having picked up two bookings in the competition while playing for Villarreal last season, Xinhua reported.

Cheryshev even scored the first goal in Real Madrid's 3-1 win, with midfielder Isco scoring Madrid's other two goals. But it could be worth nothing after Cadiz President Manolo Vizcaino confirmed after the game that his club would appeal against the result.

If the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) accepts the appeal, and there is a precedent from a game between Osasuna and Mirandes in the same competition, they will have no option other than to expel Real Madrid from the tournament.

Real Madrid Director of Institutional Relations, Emilio Butragueno, insisted the club had not been informed of Cheryshev's suspension by either Villarreal or the RFEF.

Coach Rafael Benitez, who suffered a similar mishap while coaching Valencia in 2001, said he had substituted the Russian "as an act of good faith" as soon as he discovered the error. But his defence is not expected to be accepted.

"It is not easy, a complicated night," Butragueno was later quoted as saying by French channel Canal Plus on Wednesday.

"We do not know the situation. We did not receive any notification from the RFEF. We will wait... the Judge of Competition will be the one to decide. Our legal services also have to study the situation."

"I have spoken with (Rafael) Benitez and (fellow director) Chendo. Rafael was wondering, because he was aware of other issues. Chendo knew the situation: at Real Madrid nobody has received any notice."

"It is possible that the RFEF communicated to Villarreal that Denis was punished. But Real Madrid haven't been notified."

Butragueno told others to wait and see what happens and said he had discussed the issue with the authorities.

"Let's wait, let's be cautious. It will be the Judge of Competition, I think on Friday, who decides what happens in the coming hours," he added.

"I've already talked to the RFEF. They told me to wait, and that is what we will do. Cadiz received notification? The reality is that we (Madrid) haven't received anything. We do not want to talk much. (We) just (want to) communicate what has happened. We have not received anything. I do not know."

"Will ignorance exempt us from a ban? First, let's see what the judge says."