The Competition judge’s decision to use La Liga’s proposed date ignores the preferences of both Barcelona and Osasuna. The clubs sought a date that would minimize disruptions caused by international call-ups for their players. This ruling prioritizes La Liga’s scheduling over the needs of the two teams directly involved.
The rescheduling of the postponed Barcelona-Osasuna match, originally slated for March 8th and postponed due to the death of Dr. Carles Miñarro, has sparked controversy. The single Competition judge has set March 27th, 2025 as the new date, a decision that has been met with opposition from both clubs, prompting an appeal from Barcelona. The decision has created significant disruption to the schedules of both teams and introduces a series of complexities for the clubs.
The Competition judge’s ruling selects the date proposed by La Liga, rather than the preferred dates suggested by both Barcelona and Osasuna. La Liga’s proposal emphasizes the difficulty in finding a suitable date without impacting other competitions.
The RFEF’s statement explains La Liga’s rationale in its communication stating that there is no suitable date that does not impact other competitions and therefore proposes the date of March 27th, 2025 for the match.
The chosen date clashes with international call-ups for several players. Both clubs had initially requested a postponement to accommodate players called up for international duty. The judge’s decision to ignore this request, despite receiving a list of affected players from both teams, has been met with considerable disappointment, primarily from Barcelona, who feel the decision ignores the importance of these players to the team.
Barcelona’s appeal and key player absences
Barcelona’s appeal stems from the unavailability of key players like Araujo and Raphinha due to international commitments on the proposed date. Raphinha’s absence would be particularly damaging, considering his significant goal-scoring and assist contributions. The club believes playing the match without these key players would put them at a significant disadvantage, hence the decision to appeal the ruling.
The judge based their decision on existing regulations, stating that in the event of a match postponement, the away team must remain in the area or nearby until the match is rescheduled within 24 hours if possible. If not, the match must be played on the first available date that works for both teams.
The RFEF concludes in their statement that the game should therefore take place on March 27th, 2025. The appeal filed by Barcelona casts further uncertainty on when the match will finally be played. The decision also takes into account the complexities of scheduling a game within the confines of a very tight schedule and the need to respect existing rules and regulations. This decision will add additional pressure on both teams at a crucial point in their respective seasons.
