Real Betis will be permitted to play Barcelona at their own ground on Saturday despite being given a two-match stadium ban after a visiting player was struck by a bottle thrown from the crowd.
Betis had been ordered to play the match at Atletico Madrid’s Vicente Calderon stadium, but Spain’s Sporting Discipline Committee (CEDD) accepted the club’s request for a delay to the sanction.
Betis argued that playing the game in Madrid could cause problems because city rivals Sevilla play Real Madrid in the Spanish capital the following day.
“Justice has been done, we are relieved at the decision,” said Betis president Pepe Leon. “Someone has had the good sense to do what had to be done.
“It would have been madness to make people travel to Madrid and make us play at the Vicente Calderon.”
Betis were handed the punishment after Athletic Bilbao keeper Armando was cut on the face when a fan threw a bottle of water at him during a league match at their Ruiz de Lopera stadium on March 15.
The game was abandoned with Bilbao leading 2-1, with the the Spanish Football Federation subsequently deciding that the result should stand and that Betis be banned from their stadium for two matches.
