Barcelona at Risk of La Liga Points Deduction Over Ineligible Player Controversy

Barcelona’s dominant 3-0 victory over Osasuna on March 27, 2025, has now been thrown into question due to a potential eligibility issue surrounding defender Iñigo Martínez.

The win, which kept Barcelona three points clear at the top of La Liga, could face a major setback if investigations reveal that Martínez was ineligible to play, potentially leading to a points deduction for the Catalan giants.

The match, which was a rescheduled fixture after the tragic passing of Barcelona’s team doctor, initially looked like another step towards Barcelona’s title aspirations.

Goals from Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and Robert Lewandowski secured a comfortable victory at Montjuic, and it appeared to keep them on track for a La Liga title.

However, controversy quickly emerged regarding Martínez’s participation.

The controversy stems from Martínez’s withdrawal from international duty with Spain just days before the La Liga fixture.

He pulled out of Spain’s UEFA Nations League quarter-final matches against the Netherlands due to injury but was then included in Barcelona’s starting lineup just four days after Spain’s final game in the competition.

This has raised suspicions that Martínez may have violated FIFA’s regulations, which impose strict rules about players returning to club duty too soon after pulling out of international games due to injury.

Osasuna, who were defeated 3-0, are now reportedly considering challenging the result, arguing that Barcelona may have fielded an ineligible player.

If an investigation concludes that Barcelona breached FIFA rules, the club could face severe penalties, including a points deduction.

This would be a significant blow to their La Liga title hopes, as they currently sit just ahead of Real Madrid in a tightly contested race.

The incident is still under investigation, and further updates are expected. As the matter unfolds, Barcelona will be anxiously awaiting the outcome, which could have far-reaching consequences on their title pursuit.