Competition dismisses Barakaldo’s appeal against Portugalete

Case settled. There are no more unknowns about what will happen as a result of the request to contest the semifinal of the play-off for promotion to the Second RFEF that Barakaldo made, alleging that Portugalete had made an improper alignment. The Competition Judge has decided to dismiss this appeal, so the jarrilleros will not suffer any type of economic or sporting consequence. Therefore, it is also defining that it will be the Portuguese side who will play the regional final next Sunday at 11:30 a.m. against Beasain and will fight to be just one step away from their ambitious goal.

Last Saturday, there was a Left Bank derby that had never had so much at stake. Portugalete and Barakaldo crossed paths in Lezama with their sights set on continuing their journey towards promotion. An unparalleled atmosphere was experienced, with both fans totally committed to their respective teams. What there were were no goals. They drew 0-0 after 120 minutes of play, after regulation time and extra time had expired. That proclaimed the winners of the tie and allowed the jarrilleros to advance to the round, since they arrived better positioned in the regular season – they were third in the league and the factory players were fourth.

Everything seemed seen for sentence. However, the matter has been queuing for all these days. Barakaldo considered that their rival could have made an improper alignment, alleging that he had misused the substitution windows allowed in extra time. The regulations say the following: «For the playoffs for Promotion to Second B (Second RFEF), in the event of an extension being disputed, both teams will arrive at it with the number of substitutes and substitution opportunities that they have not used. In addition, an additional substitution may be made in a further interruption of play during extra time. The additional substitution may also be used, both before the start and during the rest period of the extension.

Portugalete made their substitutions in the 78th minute, at the beginning of extra time, during the first half of it, at half-time and used two other windows in the second part of extra time. So each team does a different reading of the norm. The jarrilleros understand that they make use of four different windows, since at the beginning and at the rest of the extension they do not count. However, Barakaldo understands that those two do count, so there would be six, two more than allowed. Therefore, they decide to put the matter in the hands of the club’s lawyers, who recommend them to present the appeal before the Competition Judge. They did so last Tuesday.

Yesterday a period of allegations was opened for Portugalete and the Competition Judge has been studying the case during the following hours. Finally, this noon has given the reason to the jarrillero team, so everything will follow its course. The Portuguese will not suffer any type of economic sanction and much less sports. Now it is more than definitive that they will be the ones to face Beasain on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the main field of the Zubieta facilities for being the Basque representative who opts for promotion to the Second RFEF. This time the victory is only worth them because the Gipuzkoans arrive better classified: seconds.