The week began with a controversial decision by the disciplinary committee, who banned Málaga's midfielder Gato Romero for four games for his elbow on Valencia's Ayala a couple of weeks ago which left the Argentine defender unconscious. The sentence came despite Ayala's statement that he felt that the incident was accidental, and video evidence was at best unclear. The decision caused uproar in the local press, as other similar incidents involving big club players Rivaldo, Hierro and others had gone unpunished, and some even suggested that the Madrid based committee had made the decision as Málaga were about to play Real Madrid in the league. Málaga's appeal was turned down at first, but in the end the sports ruling disciplinary body CEDD suspended the ban pending further investigation, and Romero played in the match at the weekend.

Fireworks in the midweek cup tie between Valladolid and Deportivo, with the referee showing a record thirteen yellow cards, ten of which were for Depor players. Romero and Pandiani received two each, leaving their side with nine men for the last few minutes. The work had been done by then though, Pandiani winning a penalty only a couple of minutes before getting his marching orders. Both players will miss the first leg of the semi-final at Figueres. Another relatively quiet weekend in the league, with only one red card which went to Tenerife substitute Javi Venta, and that for a second bookable offence late in the game.

A lot of players though reached the suspension threshold for accumulation of yellow cards, including Pablo from Alavés and Njegus from Sevilla, who completed the second cycle of ten yellows. Eleven players picked up their fifth booking in the league this week, including three from Celta, Cavallero, Karpin and Mostovoi, plus Lacruz (Bilbao), Puyol (Barcelona), Novo and Paunovic (Mallorca), Contreras (Osasuna), Casquero (Sevilla) and Galca (Villarreal).

Finally a word for Oviedo's Onopko, who was sent off for the fourth time this season in only the third minute of the second division match against Racing Santander. The Russian international midfielder is only just recovering from a broken nose picked up a couple of games ago, and was caught by Bodipo on the sensitive proboscis with a flying elbow, putting back his recovery a couple of months or so. Onopko flew into a rage when Fernández Hinojosa failed to punish the striker, and questioned the honour of the referee's mother, thereby earning himself a direct red card. Bodipo repeated the act in the second half on Oscar Alvarez, leaving him too with a broken nose. Again the referee took no action. Turning a blind nose if you ask me! (21.01.02)