Massive controversy last week, with Figo being let off his second yellow card against Barcelona and therefore being allowed to play against Deportivo. The club presented video evidence which suggested that Figo had not made contact with Puyol, but the Barcelona defender was injured in the incident (partly through trying to avoid the tackle) and could be out to the end of the season as a result. Puyol also claimed that he had stud marks on his leg to prove that contact was made, although he didn't want to take the matter further against his old team mate.

The disciplinary committee banned the Portuguese midfielder for one game saying that even if he didn't make contact the tackle was high, but the appeals committee upheld Real Madrid's claim and cancelled the booking. Furthermore Benjamín's two match ban for pushing the referee last weekend was put on hold by the CEDD, allowing the Betis player to play in the game against Valencia. All of this upset the Valencia management, who once again claimed conspiracy to help Madrid win the league, and actually made a counter-claim themselves against the decision to let Figo off. This was thrown out however on the grounds that they were not the parties involved. As it happened Madrid lost and Valencia won anyway, so everything calmed down in the end.

After all that Real Madrid had another player sent off at the weekend, Zidane getting his marching orders for a second bookable offence just before half time in their game at Deportivo. Given the nature of the two bookings though it is unlikely that they will appeal this time. Other than that there was only one other sending off, Celta's Berizzo picking up his third red card of the season late in the game against Atlético Madrid for a bad tackle on Nikolaidis. Both will miss the next round of matches, as will the following for accumulation of yellow cards: Simeone (Atlético), Izquierdo (Osasuna), Alkiza (Real Sociedad) and Torres Gómez (Valladolid), all 10 cards, and Angel (Celta), Torricelli (Espanyol), Benayoun (Racing) and Mista (Valencia), all 5 cards. (04.05.04)