REAL MADRID COULD BE OUT OF COPA DEL REY

Rafael Benitez started Denis Cheryshev, who is yet to serve a suspension after receiving three yellow cards in last season's competition and scored the opening goal against Cadiz

Real Madrid could be sensationally disqualified from the Copa del Rey for fielding apparently suspended winger Denis Cheryshev.

The Russian, who scored the opening goal of the game, received a suspension after being shown three yellow cards in last season's competition while playing for Villarreal.

As Villarreal lost the semi-final tie to Barcelona in which he received his final booking, that ban has not yet been served.

Cadiz confirmed via their official Twitter account during Wednesday night's match that their board of directors would meet after the game to discuss how to proceed.
Fran Canal, the club's legal adviser, told Canal Plus: "We are going to wait until the game is over. We need to complete the formalities and we will have a meeting with the board.

"We will respect Real Madrid, but our fans and our members always want the best for Cadiz. If there is a chance [of the rules being broken] we will report it.

"I have checked all the banned players that the Spanish FA reports at the beginning of the season and this player had a one-game ban.

"Considering this is the first Copa del Rey game this season for Real Madrid, he could not have played. I insist in not rushing on this - from Cadiz we want to respect Real Madrid."

Home supporters could be heard chanting 'Cheryshev is banned' and '[Rafael] Benitez, check Twitter' - where the news was being broken - after Cheryshev had put Madrid into a 1-0 lead.

Cheryshev was then substituted by Benitez for Mateo Kovacic at half-time.

In September, Osasuna were disqualified from the Copa del Rey in similar circumstances when Unai Garcia, who had been sent off in last season's competition, played in their tie against Mirandes.