The appeals committee of Spain's soccer federation said Thursday that Barcelona hadn't broken the rules by fielding Carles Puyol and Xavi Hernandez in the first leg on Aug. 17. Barcelona won 1-0.

Espanyol argued Puyol and Xavi were ineligible because they had withdrawn from Spain's squad for the friendly with Iceland two days earlier. Both players had been recovering from injuries.

The club's complaint was based on a FIFA rule which states that players who receive international call-ups but who can't play for any reason must allow five days to elapse before they can play again.

However, the federation said it had issued a certificate which allowed the pair to leave the national squad, demonstrating there was no wish to apply the FIFA rule. It added the rule bore ``a discretionary element'' in favour of national associations.

It is the second time Espanyol has failed to have the result overturned. The federation disallowed the club's initial appeal the day after the first leg.

However, Espanyol will make a final appeal to the state body, the Spanish Council for Sports Discipline, news reports said.

Barcelona won the second leg of the series between the league champion and the Copa del Rey winner 3-0 on Aug. 20.