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Real Madrid v Barcelona: Nou Camp lawyers believe Neymar CAN play in El Clasico
BARCELONA believe Neymar is NOT suspended for tomorrow's match with Real Madrid in the El Clasico - despite a court message upholding his suspension.
Barcelona FC's Neymar showcases INCREDIBLE skills
Barcelona star Neymar was given a three-game suspension after picking up two yellow cards and then insulting match officials in a game against Malaga.
The suspension meant he was set miss the Real Madrid showdown at the Bernabeu.
Barcelona sought to exploit a legal loophole to get their Brazil international eligible for tomorrow's game.
But that effort has been dismissed by the Spanish Sports Tribunal (TAD).
BARCELONA FAIL IN NEYMAR APPEAL: FULL DETAILS HERE
Barca’s initial appeal to overturn the ban failed this week and so yesterday club officials lodged a further appeal to a higher court - the TAD.
The club made the appeal at 4pm CET - an hour AFTER the TAD committee had ended their daily session.
Barca were within their rights to lodge their appeal late on Friday afternoon as the move came within the 48-hour window given to them.
Barca hoped that by timing their appeal late in the day the officials would not look at the case, which in effect would leave the appeal open over the weekend and therefore leave Neymar eligible for the game.
Barcelona have appealed against Neymar's suspension
Neymar (left) was sent off in the recent defeat to Malaga
Real Madrid face Barcelona in the Clasico tomorrow
Contestación del TAD al Barça: confirman q no solicitó cautelar y que las sanciones disciplinarias son de inminente ejecución salvo cautelar pic.twitter.com/y5OqFkwH5G
— Isaac Fouto (@isaacfouto) April 22, 2017
TAD’s president was today unable to find two members of the seven-man appeals panel to sit and look over the case and an extraordinary meeting at 12noon was cancelled.
The president sent Barca a two-page message outlining that a decision couldn't be made and that the ban should therefore be upheld, with Barca knowing their timing of the appeal was done to confuse proceedings.
But reports in Spain now claim Barca’s lawyers believe the suspension is invalid - because the TAD didn’t sit on the case.
The Nou Camp lawyers say there is a 15-day window for TAD to rule on the appeal and until then Neymar should not be suspended.
Real Madrid themselves are said to be planning to lodge a counter appeal if Barca make Neymar available without the concession of the court.
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