As the season gets under way some of the summer decisions of the disciplinary committee are becoming clearer. In the past some of the findings were published on the RFEF website, at least whenever they felt like it, but even that has apparently stopped and our trusty reporters have to pick up snippets from the local press. It appears however that Eto'o's five match ban was not commuted as we thought, and neither was Romero's four game suspension (pending appeal). Depor's Acuña has already served out his five match ban thanks to two supercup and one copa del rey ties, and he will be available for selection next week.

Last week's committee also suspended Málaga's Valcarce for two games, later reduced to one, for pushing over a ball boy in the opening game of the season at Huelva. The lad did not want to give him the ball as his team were in front, a valiant gesture but not very bright for someone who presumably wants to persue a career in the game.

The midweek cup matches did produce six red cards, four of which were for first division players. Villarreal's Unai was the first to go for two bookings, and he was followed the next day by Alex Fernández (2 yellows), Peña (straight red) and of course our old friend Darío Silva. He was given his marching orders for kicking out in retaliation at Extremadura's Fragoso with only half an hour on the clock, and will be banned for two games as a result..

Five more players sent off on day two of the league programme, proving that things have returned to normal. All were for second bookable offences, with Fernando Torres probably a little unlucky to be booked twice for diving in the penalty area in a five minute period late in the game against Sevilla. The second probably was a dive, but he couldn't do much about the first as he was knocked over by the defender, foul or no foul. No action was taken however against Sevilla's Pablo Alfaro in the same game, who after embracing his ex team mate Aguilera before the kick off, sent him to hospital with a broken nose thirty minutes later. The disciplinary commitee may act on video evidence though.

Jesuli's was probably the silliest red card of the day, and having been booked once he should have had more sense than to take off his shirt and celebrate with the crowd, great goal or not. The other three offenders were Geli (Alavés), Soldevilla (Espanyol) and Puñal (Osasuna). (17.09.02)