FC Barcelona won't be kicked out of Copa del Rey after Levante's official complaint arrives too late

The Nou Camp club risked expulsion but will continue in the tournament after Levante took too long to lodge their protest

Ernesto Valverde's side will remain in the Copa del Rey (Getty)

The Spanish FA have rejected calls for FC Barcelona to be expelled from the Copa del Rey, judging that Levante's official complaint came too late for action to be taken and that the Nou Camp club can continue to the quarter-finals.

It emerged on Thursday that Barca were at risk of being kicked out of the cup after fielding an ineligible player in the first leg of their Copa tie with Levante , which they lost 2-1.

Barcelona insisted they had not committed any offence throughout and that the rules had changed, but the Spanish FA have ruled that Levante's denuncia, received at 9:33am on Friday, was too late. Official protests must be lodged within 24 hours.

Young defender Juan Brandariz, better known as Chumi, started as part of a rotated Barca XI in the first leg of their cup tie with Levante last Thursday.

However, Chumi was subject to a suspension from the Spanish FA (RFEF) after picking up his fifth booking of the season in the Segunda B. Chumi was given a yellow card against Castellón four days earlier.

Not realising this, Barcelona went ahead and included the promising centre-back but El Mundo reported on Thursday that they risked being kicked out of the competition - as happened to Real Madrid three seasons ago.

On that occasion, Madrid played Russian winger Denis Cheryshev in a Copa del Rey fixture against Cadiz not realising that he was suspended after picking up a suspension while on loan at Villarreal. However, on that occasion the realisation was instant and Cadiz filed a complaint the next morning.

Levante only realised Barcelona might have broken the rules on the day of their second leg, which Barca won 3-0 to take an aggregate win, and thus their protest fell outside the allowable period. They have, however, announced that they will appeal the decision.

Barca will play Sevilla in the quarter-finals.

Copa del Rey quarter-finals

• Real Madrid vs Girona
• Getafe vs Valencia
• Barcelona vs Sevilla
• Espanyol vs Betis