RFEF Rejects Real Madrid! Appeal to Postpone LaLiga Opener Turned Down
Madrid’s plea to defer their 2025–26 LaLiga opener against Osasuna on August 19 has been dismissed by the RFEF, despite citing their FIFA Club World Cup participation.
Real Madrid are set to begin their 2025–26 LaLiga season with a home match against CA Osasuna on August 19, after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) turned down their appeal for a postponement.
As per several Spanish media outlets on Thursday, the Madrid-based club had sought additional time to recuperate and prepare following their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The appeal was based on Real Madrid’s participation in the expanded version of the Club World Cup, which was held in the United States earlier this year. The LaLiga giants made it to the semi-finals but were knocked out by French champions Paris Saint-Germain on July 9.
Citing their tight calendar and the need for adequate pre-season preparation, Madrid urged the RFEF to delay their LaLiga opener. However, the federation rejected the appeal, underlining the need to uphold the league’s scheduling consistency.
RFEF Judge Refers to Sporting Fairness
According to a report from Europa Press, a judge appointed by the RFEF stated that only an exceptional scenario or a situation of force majeure would justify modifying the official league fixtures. The judge concluded that Real Madrid’s case did not fall under this category.
“To safeguard the integrity of the competition, only an instance of force majeure can justify altering the official calendar,” the judgement read.
The judge also addressed Madrid’s assertion that their opponents, Osasuna, had agreed to the proposed change in schedule.
“Lastly, while the applicant club claims that the opposing team, CA Osasuna, has given their consent, there is no formal record of this club responding to the request addressed by this judge,” the ruling further noted, as per Europa Press.
With the verdict in place, Real Madrid will now have just over a month’s gap between their exit from the Club World Cup and the start of their domestic campaign. The limited recovery time presents a challenge for head coach Xabi Alonso, who will need to manage player workload and fitness levels before the rigorous season begins.
