New Delhi: Spanish giants Real Madrid have been disqualified from the 2015-16 Copa del Rey after they fielded an ineligible player in Wednesday`s last 32, first leg match at third-tier Cadiz.


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According to Spanish media, the Spanish Football Federation (FEF)'s competition committee chief, Francisco Rubio, on Friday upheld a complaint against Rafa Benitez​'s side by Cadiz over the eligibility of Denis Cheryshev.


Madrid included Cheryshev in their starting lineup for the match and the Russian opened the scoring in their 3-1 win on Wednesday.


Cheryshev, who spent last season on loan at Villarreal, picked up three yellow cards in the 2014-15 competition and should have served a one-match ban.


In a report in AS, Rubio rejected the two main arguments put forward by Madrid - the absence of official confirmation to the player when was on loan at Villarreal and the annulling of all yellow cards after the first three rounds of the Copa competition.


The verdict meant that, 'Los Blancos' are officially disqualified from the competition and the Andalusian outfit will go through to the last 16.


In between, Madrid have announced that they will appeal the decision, first before the RFEF Appeals Committee and then, if necessary, before the Spanish Sports Tribunal (TAD).