Real Madrid has said it had filed an appeal with Spain's Administrative Court for Sport over its disqualification from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player.
The decision was made Thursday after the Appeals Committee of Spain's football federation upheld an earlier ruling expelling Madrid from the domestic cup competition for using Russian midfielder Denis Cheryshev in a December 2 round-of-32 first-leg match versus Cadiz, reports Efe.
Cherysev was ineligible because he had picked up too many yellow cards in last season's edition of the event while on loan to Villarreal.
"Real Madrid has received and analysed the resolution of the Appeals Committee, which once again verifies that the player Denis Cheryshev was not notified of his ban, the only way the aforementioned ban can take effect," the club said in a statement posted Thursday.
"The club has, therefore, submitted an appeal to the Administrative Court for Sport."
Cheryshev scored the first goal of Real Madrid's 3-1 victory over Cadiz in Ramon de Carranza Stadium, but he was taken out of the game early in the second half when the visitors learned he had been banned for one match.