Topics: Copa del Rey, Cádiz, Real Madrid, Denis Cheryshev
Rafa Benitez's decision of starting Denis Cheryshev could cost Los Blancos their elimination from the tournament, since the player had to serve a one-match ban from last season.

Denis Cheryshev's name won't be forgotten for a long time by football fans around the world after today.

Real Madrid played their first Copa del Rey match against Segunda B side Cádiz at Estadio Ramón de Carranza, with the Russian player starting for the Spanish giants. After three minutes, Cheryshev scored the game's first goal, and that's when all hell broke loose.

Sources spread the news about a one match ban that Cheryshev was yet to serve, having being booked three times last season while playing for Villarreal. Since this is the first game for Madrid in the tournament, his performance today could force Los Blancos to be kicked out of the competition. Rafa Benitez substituted Cheryshev during the halftime break, but it was too late.

Cádiz's president Manuel Vizcaino revealed in a press conference that, even though they consider Real Madrid one of the best teams in the business, they can't overlook a situation like this, so, they will have their say with the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

"The board meeting has decided to make a complaint about the illegal player Cheryshev, with pain in our heart. It's a hard decision because Madrid is the best club, but we have acted at the end of the match," Vizcaíno stated.

To make matters worse, coach Rafa Benitez revealed he had no clue about Cheryshev's ban.

"The club wasn't aware of it. The Spanish Federation did not inform of any ban to any player, nor did Villarreal, that's why we decided to change him, to show our good faith. Once we were informed about it, we decided to take him off the pitch at halftime,"Benitez revealed.

Things are not looking good for Madrid, since there has been a similar case this season, and the club held responsible for it was kicked out of the tournament. Club Osasuna used a player called Unai Garcia, who also had to serve a ban from last season, the other club complained about it and Los Rojillos were kicked out of the tournament.

There have been all sorts of reactions since the news broke out. Here are some of the best, starting with one from Barcelona's Gerard Piqué.

"Here's how Benitez selects Real Madrid's starting lineups"

"This would be the second time a team coached by Benitez is kicked out of the tournament for an illegal formation. It happened back in the 2001-2002 season while coaching Valencia"