The Spanish Badminton Federation informed Badminton Europe that the decision was taken after the country's top players refused to sign over their image rights to the national governing body. 

Under a controversial agreement the players, who include newly-crowned world champion Carolina Marin, would have to give up to 45 per cent of their earnings to the Spanish Badminton Federation, who would also be able to dictate how many sponsors they would be able to endorse on their kit in international competition. 

The 21-year-old from Huelva beat China's Li Xuerui in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Championships women's singles final held in Copenhagen in August.

Spain were drawn into Group 3 alongside Scotland and reigning champions Germany, both of whom have automatically qualified for the quarter-finals and will battle it out for top spot in the group tomorrow.

World champion Carolina Marin will miss out on 2015 European Mixed Team Championships after Spain's withdrawal ©Getty Images















Meanwhile, on the first day of action in the Belgian city of Leuven, The Netherlands were in ominous form as they thrashed Poland 5-0 in Group 1. 

Jacco Arends and Selena Piek beat Robert Mateusiak and Agnieszka Wojtkowska in two games to set the Dutch on their way before Eric Pang made it 2-0 after coming from a game behind to beat Michal Rogalski.

Soraya De Visch Eijbergen won her women's singles match to further increase the advantage before Arends and Jelle Maas recorded an unexpected victory against Adam Cwalina and Przemyslaw Wacha. 

Samantha Barning and Irish Tabeling rounded off the rout by overcoming Agnieszka Wojtkowska and her sister Aneta. 

In Group 2, Ireland all but ended hosts Belgium's hopes of advancing to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 win, while France beat Sweden 4-1 in Group 4. 

The group stage is due to conclude tomorrow. 

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