Real Madrid have been expelled from the Copa del Rey for fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev in Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Cadiz. 

The Russian winger picked up three yellow cards in the competition last season while on loan at Villarreal - the third in the semi-final defeat to Barcelona - and was supposed to be suspended for the first game of this season’s Copa. 

However, Madrid did not realise and Rafael Benitez, taking advantage of his squad, played him from the start against the third division side. 

Cheryshev opened the scoring, but was taken off at half-time as word spread that he was not eligible to play. 

Madrid are now likely to appeal the decision and fight for their right to remain in the competition, as Perez suggested they would do during a press conference on Thursday evening. 

"The penalty Cheryshev was given while playing for Villarreal is ineffective in our view, no one had mentioned the sanction to the player’” Perez said. 

"As Article 41 of the RFEF's disciplinary code states, the punishment is not effective unless it notifies those to be punished.

"Real Madrid did not know of its existence, no one reported it - neither the player nor Villarreal nor the RFEF." 

Cadiz confirmed on Wednesday they had made a complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) regarding Cherysheve’s involvement. Francisco Rubio Sanchez, the competition committee judge at the RFEF, ruled in favour of the Segunda B side on Thursday, expelling Madrid from the competition.