Both of the red cards dished out midweek were cancelled, Graff's being downgraded by the appeal committee to a yellow card, and Pierini having one of his yellow cards and consequently his red annulled. Reading the referee's report, it turned out that one his bookings was for "wearing two gold chains around his neck" rather than as we reported for arguing, the officials presumably only realising the fact when he got his first booking. Such ornaments are not allowed in Spanish football (presumably to stop them from hanging themselves off the crossbar if they score an own goal?), and assuming that the player didn't sneak them on to the pitch someone didn't do his job properly before kick off (the reason why the card was cancelled?).

This weekend there were four red cards, albeit that two of them were for coaches who should have known better. Levante's Bernd Schuster was in trouble again after protesting the referee's decision, and he made things worse by telling him once shown the red card and asked to leave that he shan't, shan't shan't! Mallorca's physical trainer was also sent off after protesting a possible penalty decision too strongly. On the field of play, both Atlético's Perea and Racing's Oriol were sent for early baths after picking up second bookings in their respective games (27.09.04)