For the first time in many years a Brit was sent off in a Spanish football match. It had nothing to do with a citizen of the United Kingdom though, for the player in question was Osasuna's young striker Gorka Brit, who must have said something rather unpleasant to the linesman for the referee to produce a red card in the middle of the cup semi-final tie at Huelva. The youngster was lucky to get away with a one match ban after touching the side of his face, which liberally translated into English is a way of saying he had a lot of cheek.

Strangely it was a week where the forwards took centre stage (or rather "exit stage left"), with all three red cards at the weekend going to persons of the attacking persuasion. The first to go was Diego Tristán, his first ever red card, after being booked twice in the match against Osasuna, and the visitors' top scorer Rivero followed later on for the same reason. A couple of hours latter it was the turn of Sevilla's exciting young striker Reyes, who also fell foul of the authorities with two yellow cards in a matter of minutes against Atlético.

Only four players were up before the disciplinary committee for accumulation of yellow cards, including Ayala (Valencia), Aranburu (Real Sociedad), Cruchaga (Osasuna) and Poli (Mallorca), who had only just returned after a one match ban after being sent off. Sensational news though after Tuesday's disciplinary meeting, with all three members of the committee handing in their resignations saying they were fed up with the lack of confidence from the Spanish federation. A new committee was named 24 hours later, but it seems all is not well in the house of federation president Angel Villar. (12.02.03)