The La Liga giants have lost their appeal against their expulsion from the Copa del Rey, the RFEF has confirmed, but Los Blancos could yet take their case to a higher court.
The Appeal Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has rejected Real Madrid's appeal over its disqualification from the Copa del Rey for fielding the ineligible Denis Cheryshev.
The Russia international started and scored in a 3-1 victory over Cadiz in the first leg of Madrid's round-of-32 tie earlier this month.
However, Cheryshev was withdrawn in the first minute of the second half after it emerged he had yet to serve a one-match ban for accumulating three yellow cards in last season's competition while on loan at Villarreal.