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RFEF dismiss Espanyol's complaint over Barca

MADRID, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Espanyol's attempt to have their 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the Super Cup overturned because they believe Barcelona fielded an ineligible line-up has been dismissed by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

The Federation's Competitions Committee said on Friday that they had rejected Espanyol's complaint although the Primera Liga side can appeal against the decision.

Spain centre back Carles Puyol and midfielder Xavi played for Barcelona in the match between the league and Cup winners at Montjuic on Thursday, three days after they had withdrawn from international duty through injury.
The duo pulled out of Tuesday's friendly against Iceland because of minor injury niggles but then trained normally with their club and played in the first leg.

Xavi played for more than an hour and Puyol was replaced by new signing Gianluca Zambrotta six minutes from time.

Espanyol director Pedro Tomas said that Barca had flouted FIFA rules which state that players who withdraw from international duty through injury should not play for their clubs for at least five days.

"Before the match we warned all parties involved that Barcelona would be breaking the rules about the use of internationals," Tomas told a news conference on Friday.

He said Espanyol had presented an official complaint to the RFEF asking them to intervene in the case.

"We want them to accept the complaint and then for justice to take its course," he said. "If they accept it is an ineligible line-up, Espanyol should be declared the winners of the match and the trophy."

Legal disputes and bureaucratic arguments have become a regular feature of Spanish football in recent years.

The last Primera Liga season had to be extended because of a row over when to reschedule a postponed match between Barcelona and Sevilla, while clubs regularly threaten legal action over RFEF disciplinary decisions.
The second leg is on Sunday.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/break...023449,00.html