A record number of cards for the season this week, with no less than 70 yellows and seven reds. With four weeks to go nerves were on edge, and the teams struggling for salvation were the worst offenders, Rayo for example picking up seven yellows and two straight reds. One of the reds went to for young Brazilian Iriney at the end for a hard tackle, and the poor man left the field in tears. Rayo's physical trainer Javi Paredes was also sent off for grabbing the linesman and shouting at him to inform the referee that his defender didn't touch an opposing player, and Onopko was reported by the referee for asking him repeatedly what his name was. If he had bothered to look at the local paper he could have saved himself the trouble and a possible fine.

Alavés midfielder Turiel was not on long for Alavés before he crashed into Espanyol's Martín Posse from behind and got himself sent off, and Valladolid defender Jonathan was booked for arguing and then told the referee what he would like to do to his mother, which obviously earned him a straight red (as mentioned in previous weeks, referees are very sensitive about their mothers in Spain). Mallorca's Lozano left his side with ten men for all the second half after he was given a second booking for a high tackle, and Málaga's Sandro could be in big trouble after he insulted the referee after being shown a second yellow card. It did look as though he had a point though, as he didn't appear to touch Real Sociedad's De Pedro. And the other red card went to Recreativo's (unnamed) press officer, who made us all question whether he was the right man for the job when he insulted a linesman early in the game.

The disciplinary committees were busy again this week, with Gurpegui having his suspension put back on hold pending the decision on his pending two year drug ban, Betis striker Gastón Casas having a four match suspension imposed for his red card last week and Racing manager Chuchi Cos having his appeal turned down against a one year ban for irregularities whilst at Palamos (for managing two teams at once). That gave rise to a silly situation where the team coach was in the directors' box and the club president Dmitri Piterman was on the manager's bench with the assistant coach. Several players will be banned for next weekend for accumulation of cards, starting with Varela who is the first this year to complete the third cycle of yellow cards (i.e. 15 in all). Ten more have completed the first cycle, including Astudillo (Alavés), Yeste (Athletic), Reiziger (Barcelona), Scaloni (Deportivo), Valcarce (Málaga), Coromina (Racing), Onopko and Azkoitia (Rayo), Guti (Real Madrid) and Viqueira and Loren (Recreativo). (27.05.03)