Barcelona have launched a last-ditch appeal to the Court of Arbitratrion for Sport (CAS) for Neymar to play in the Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday.
According to Marca, Barca deliberately waited until the close of business on Friday to send their appeal, aware that CAS would not meet until next week.
Subsequently, the Catalans believe they have automatically obtained the right for Neymar to play in the Clasico, although they are relying on their own interpretation of the law – a first in Spanish sport.
This is because they consider there to be a contradiction in Article 98.1b of the Disciplinary Code of the Spanish Football Federation, which states: “Acts of Public Administrations, subject to Administrative Law, shall be enforceable immediately, with the exception of resolutions to procedures of a sanctioning nature, to which an appeal may be filed by administrative means.”
With that, Barca feel Neymar’s three-match ban is not currently in effect, given they have not taken the administrative route, unless CAS meets extraordinarily to settle the matter on Saturday, which AS reports will happen at 12:00 CET (11:00 BST).
