Osasuna to report Santander for ineligible line-up

Osasuna are to report Racing Santander to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for fielding an ineligible line-up during the teams' goalless Primera Liga draw on Sunday.

"We owe it to our fans to report that Racing played with four non-European Union players," said Osasuna director Angel Vizcay. "We feel sorry for Racing, but rules are rules."

When Racing coach Lucas Alcaraz brought on Uruguayan winger Mario Regueiro for Spanish forward Javi Guerrero midway through the second half, they broke the Federation rule that allows teams to field a maximum of three non-European Union players.

Racing had Israeli forwards Yossi Benayoun and Omri Afek and Brazilian midfielder Anderson Silva on the pitch when the substitution took place and although Alcaraz rectified his error within two minutes the damage was done.

"I didn't realise what had happened," said Alcaraz. "It was a serious mistake but I was only thinking of tactical matters at the time."

Federation rules stipulate that such an error should result in the award of a 3-0 victory to the other team, in which case Osasuna would now have a three-point lead over Atletico Madrid in fourth place in the table. Racing would lose one point but remain 13th.

It is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Spanish football.

Real Madrid's sporting director Jorge Valdano made the same error on two occasions during his coaching career, once for Real and once for Valencia.

In January 1999, Valladolid were punished with a 3-0 defeat after coach Sergio Kresic fielded too many foreign players for five minutes during their 1-0 league victory over Real Betis.

Two seasons ago Valencia were thrown out of the Cup when coach Rafa Benitez made a similar mistake during his side's 1-0 victory over third division Novelda.