Real Madrid win Nacho yellow card appeal amid Barcelona outrage

Real Madrid defender Nacho has been given the all-clear to play against Celta Vigo on Wednesday night (17 May) after the Appeal Committee of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) rescinded his suspension. Barcelona press and fans quickly expressed their disapproval with the decision as the game is expected to be decisive in the battle for La liga between Los Blancos and the Catalan side.

Nacho, 27, has been a key player for Real Madrid this season due to his versatility in all four positions at the back.

The Spain international defender has started 24 La Liga games this season but was expected to miss the trip to Celta after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign during the weekend's 4-1 victory over Sevilla.

Real Madrid made an appeal to the RFEF as the club felt referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco was too harsh with his carding.

The Competition Committee Committee turned down the first appeal on Tuesday. Zinedine Zidane, however, still included Nacho in his 20-man squad on Wednesday morning hoping to have him available after Real Madrid had previously decided to take the case to the Appeals Committee.

And the decision of the French boss has paid off as the Committee did not uphold the yellow card – and Nacho will thus be free to play at Balaidos.

The news is a boost for Zidane as Los Blancos will be searching for a victory in the rescheduled clash with Celta to overtake Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Nacho is expected to start either on the right-back or in the heart of defence as Dani Carvajal and Pepe remain in the treatment room, alongside Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez.

Real Madrid need to secure four points from their last two games at Celta and Malaga to lift the title as they are currently level on points with Barcelona and the Catalans have just one more game to play, against Eibar.

Barcelona fans and local publication Sport have hit back at the decision of the Appeals Committee, describing it as a "scandal" that constitutes a "new injustice which benefits Real Madrid" in the fight for La Liga.

"Another scandal in La Liga Santander 2016/17. Real Madrid have once again been favoured by the governing bodies. The pressure the club put on the Appeal Committee has paid off," Sport said just minutes after learning that Nacho is available to face Celta.