The new format of the Spanish cup, with matches in the first two rounds played over one leg at the ground of the lower division club, has thrown up some surprises and not a few red cards for top teams over the last two or three seasons. However it seems the first division sides have learnt their lessons and took their games calmly, with only Athletic Bilbao and Albacete being knocked out in round one. Although there were twelve red cards in the 32 ties, only two of them were for players from the top flight, with Albacete's Cacá losing his nerves and getting a straight red towards the end of the game with Cultural Leonesa, and Celta's Contreras picking up two yellow cards against Pontevedra, a match which the Vigo based side had to resort to a penalty shoot-out to win.

We cannot of course leave the subject of the cup without commenting about the violent death of Deportivo supporter Manuel Rios at the hands of thugs from his own side. Rios was trying to defend a young Compostela fan who was being beaten up by so-called members of Deportivo's radical Riazor Blues group, and was kicked to death for his pains. The founder members of the Riazor Blues distanced themselves from the action which they said was by persons who were not really part of their organization, but decided out of decency and respect for the victim's family to disband the group. The perpetrators were caught and face lengthy jail sentences, but the incident does reflect an unhealthy trend in Spanish football which the authorities will be trying to eradicate with the support of all of us.

Back to lighter subjects, last week the disciplinary committee cancelled one of the two yellow cards which Javi Moreno picked up in the league, allowing him to play at the weekend. They are likely to do the same this week for Zaragoza's Ponzio, who was the victim of mistaken identity when the referee showed him a second yellow card and consequently a red for a foul committed by his team mate Cuartero.

Ponzio was one of thee players sent off this weekend, the other two being Real Murcia's Jensen (a straight red) and Carreras (two yellows) in their game at Osasuna. The players were probably upset though that the referee had not take firmer action against Moha, who had only been booked for a tackle from behind which left Maciel with his leg broken in three places and his ankle hanging limply from the end of his leg (we advise the squeamish amongst you not to watch the TV round up of the game this week). Moha was so upset though that he asked to be substituted early in the second half and rushed to the hospital to comfort his adversary, who is likely to be out for anything between six and nine months. (21.10.03)