Barcelona has escaped being expelled from the Copa del Rey and will now face Sevilla in the quarter final of the competition.
We earlier reported that Barcelona might be kicked out of Copa del Rey despite last nights round of 16 emphatic 3-0 victory against Levante at the Camp Nou.
Levante president Quico Catalan confirmed that his team will make an official complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) over irregularities in Barcelona’s Copa del Rey team last week.
The Valencia-based side filed a complaint over defender Chumi’s usage in the first leg. Chumi who played the first 58 minutes of the first leg, should have been suspended after picking up a fifth booking in the Segunda Division B.
A judge has now declared Barcelona eligible to continue in the Copa del Rey after Levante’s complaint over an ineligible player was deemed to have been filed too late.
Judge Carmen Perez, however, declared Levante’s complaint to be filed too late on Friday, after Barca defeated the Valencia-based side 3-0 in the return leg on Thursday to advance to the competition’s last eight.
“The sole judge of Competition, Carmen Perez, considers in accordance with the regulations in effect in the RFEF that the complaint presented by Levante UD at 9:33 am on this Friday has been received outside the established deadline,” a statement from the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) read on Friday.
“Once the complaint and the corresponding allegations have been studied, the single judge of Competition has decided to maintain the result of the tie and keep FC Barcelona in the draw for the quarter-finals of this afternoon for the reasons previously stated.”
That draw took place on Friday, and Barcelona were paired with Sevilla in a rematch of last season’s final.
Elsewhere Real Madrid will take on Girona, who knocked out Atletico Madrid in the last 16, Valencia will face Getafe and Real Betis were drawn against Espanyol.
Barcelona are looking to win the competition for the fifth consecutive season.