Legal threats as Deportivo relegated to third tier without kicking a ball

MADRID - The joint decision taken by La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday to suspend the game between Deportivo la Coruna and Fuenlabrada, while allowing the remaining fixtures in the last round of matches of the Spanish second division (Segunda B) to go ahead has led to Deportivo la Coruna threatening to take legal action.

The decision was taken after seven Fuenlabrada players and three members of their backroom staff tested positive for the coronavirus, COVID-19.

The results of the games that were played on Monday saw Deportivo, who won the La Liga title 20 years ago, relegated to the third tier of the Spanish game (Segunda B) without kicking a ball as Numancia and Albacete both claimed victories to make it impossible to escape the bottom four even if they do beat Fuenlabrada at a future date.

However, Deportivo President, Fernando Vidal appeared in a press conference to complain bitterly and threaten legal action against the decision to allow other games to go ahead, which he insisted destroyed the integrity of the competition.

"It would have been normal to postpone all of the matches. I understood that they had to suspend ours, but what has happened has adulterated the competition as they have destroyed the principal of equality. We will do everything possible and I do not consider us to be relegated," said Vidal, who insisted the entire round of matches should be repeated.

Deportivo argue that if they had been playing at the same time and winning, their result would have placed their rivals in the battle against relegation under pressure.

The decision to allow all of the other games to proceed also affects the play-offs for promotion to La Liga. Fuenlabrada were sixth in the table and occupying the final play-off position, which they would have needed to defend against a Deportivo side fighting for survival.

Although Monday's results saw them overtaken by Elche, a draw in their last game would be enough to give Fuenlabrada the final play-off spot and the fact that Deportivo are now mathematically down in theory now makes their task a lot easier.

Elche pointed this out in a communique of their own which states "we do our talking on the pitch, but it's obvious that today a decision was taken that directly affects the integrity of the competition and we don't think it is fair."