Real Madrid's Copa Del Rey Disqualification Appeal Dismissed: Comments, Reaction

The Spanish Sports Ministry's Administrative Court has turned down Real Madrid's appeal of their disqualification from the 2015-16 Copa del Rey, and Los Blancos will now turn to the Spanish civil courts.

The decision to uphold the ban was made on Monday, and Real immediately released a statement on their official website, via AS:

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The Administrative Court of Sport has dismissed the appeal made by Real Madrid C. F. concerning the Spanish Football Federation's disciplinary decisions in relation to the Copa del Rey round of 32 first-leg tie.

The club respects but does not agree with the Court's ruling and as such announces its decision to pursue a judicial-administrative course of action, along with other possible legal options, which are currently being studied.

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Los Blancos were disqualified from the competition for fielding an ineligible player during the first leg of their tie against Cadiz. Denis Cheryshev scored the first goal in that match, but he was still suspended from accumulating too many yellow cards with Villarreal the season prior.

Spain's civil courts do not have the power to reinstate Los Blancos, so even if their appeal is successful, it will only be a moral victory, per AS. Yahoo Sport UK's Andrew Gaffney confirms the TAD's ruling was the club's final chance of returning to the competition:

Per Omar Hamouda of Squawka, Real's case was built around the fact the club was never directly informed of Cheryshev's suspension, which only came to light as the match against Cadiz was being played.

Club president Florentino Perez felt comfortable challenging the ban, but Los Blancos' bid to overturn the verdict seemed doomed from the start, as there was clear precedent for the ban. Just last season, Osasuna suffered a similar fate, per Sport.

It marks the second time a club coached by Rafa Benitez has been disqualified from the Copa del Rey. Back in 2001, Valencia were banned for breaching the rules on fielding non-EU players, per Hamouda.

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