La Liga: Real Madrid face possible forfeit defeat against Osasuna | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé

Even after their 1-0 victory on Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid could legally lose the match in favor of Osasuna.

Indeed, Franco Mastantuono’s debut with Real Madrid has already sparked heated controversy in Spain. The young player came on against Osasuna during Madrid’s 1-0 win, wearing the number 30 jersey—a number typically reserved for the B team. The young Argentine is thus accused of having been registered irregularly by the Madrid club. Miguel Galán, lawyer and president of the National Center for Football Coaches Training (CENAFE), believes that Real Madrid is guilty of an “incorrect lineup.” He points out that the player, signed for €60 million, officially belongs to Castilla and not to the first team.

As a result, Osasuna has 24 hours after the match to file an appeal with the RFEF Competition Commission, which could lead to a forfeit defeat for Los Merengues. According to Sport, as long as Mastantuono has not actually played for the reserve team, his participation in official matches with the senior squad remains legally questionable. The case also raises questions about the choice of the number 30, said to be a personal whim of the player, which goes against the spirit of the regulations regarding squad numbers in La Liga. This strategy allows Real to free up a spot in the squad and ease their financial fair play calculations, but it could backfire if the federation authorities decide to sanction the club.