It didn't seem to be a bad week, but in the end five players were sent off and 61 yellow cards were produced in the ten games. Two of the reds were direct, including one for Barcelona's Abelardo, who was starting his first league game in over a year after a long lay off through injury. The international defender put in a knee high tackle from behind on Valladolid's Luis García just before half time to leave his side with ten men for the whole second half. Compared to that Osasuna's Josetxo can feel hard done by to get his marching orders for a light push on Valencia's Angulo in the first half of their match at Valencia, and the penalty awarded against his side should have been punishment enough. The other three sendings off were for second bookable offences, one each in the three games played on Saturday night. The first went to Sevilla's Mexican international Torrado, who was unlucky to get a second yellow card early in the second half of the Sevilla derby as he didn't seem to do anything wrong. The other two were Rayo's Hernández and Schurrer of Las Palmas, both of whom have a long record of similar crimes.

Up to eight more players will sit out next weekend's games for accumulation of yellow cards, including Osasuna's Cruchaga, the only outfield player in the league who has not missed a minute's play this season. Villarreal's Unai and Ibon Begoña of Alavés both reached the ten yellow card threshold, and Tiko (Bilbao), Cañas (Betis), Diego Tristán and Scaloni (Depor) and Edu Alonso (Las Palmas) are all on five. Finally the appeals committee suspended Magno's red card from last week, and he was able to play for Alavés at the weekend. This week's disciplinary meeting could give a fine to Betis and Sevilla after the crowd trouble in their game on Saturday. Sevilla fans ripped up chairs and threw them on spectators below, and Betis supporters fired flares into the Sevilla crowd. This has been considered a serious offence in Spain ever since a young boy was killed when a flare hit him in the chest a few years ago at Espanyol's old Sarria stadium. (25.03.02)