The disciplinary committee sorted out two old chestnuts this week. As reported last week, they finally decided not to sanction Rivaldo for his punch on Lacruz, deciding that it was not that serious and that he had already been booked. As a result Lacruz had to sit out his one match ban which had been postponed pending the case. Sevilla's Gallardo was also let off after the committee decided that his unorthodox goal celebration, while quite unpleasant, was not worthy of any further action.

The week started with the round of cup matches, and the rather costly decision by Hospitalet not to play their game against Deportivo in protest at the forced change of venue. An investigation has been opened up, and the Catalan club will probably be fined around 10,000 euros and thrown out of next year's event. Depor and the television companies may also take action for loss of earnings. Not much to report on the other seven games, with only one red card, for Sporting Gijon's keeper Juanjo, who was sent off early in the game for a foul on Villarreal's Craioveanu. Sporting are not having much luck with their number ones, Valencia having got his marching orders in their second division game the weekend before for handling outside of the area.

A quiet weekend in the league too, with the lowest number of cards since week nine. We did see though the return to form of the man who won this trophy the last two years in a row, Oscar Téllez of Alavés. We were beginning to think that the man had reformed, what with being called up for Spain and all that, but he was obviously waiting for the right moment. And that came in the bad-tempered game between the new league leaders and Sevilla, which got harder and harder until 'the Rock' (as we shall call him in honour of the wrestling star with the hard elbows) decided to settle matters with a 'clothesline' to the head of young Víctor Sales. After that all hell let loose, with the Sevilla players booed off after blatant time wasting tactics to use up the final few minutes.

The other two reds were relatively tame affairs, with Barcelona's Xavi uncharacteristically picking up a second yellow before half time for protesting a foul, and Valencia's Pellegrino feeling hard done by when he was given a second booking for not moving the statutory distance from a quickly taken free kick. A few more players have to sit out the last game of the calendar year next weekend, and one wonders whether one or two didn't pick up a fifth yellow to be able to start their Christmas holidays early. The lucky ones (subject to confirmation) are Rochemback (Barcelona), Capi (Betis), Miguel Angel (Málaga), Fernando Niño (Mallorca), Alfaro (Sevilla), Tena (Valladolid) and Xavi Roca (Villarreal). (17.12.01)