Cup action returned this week, and there was lot of it. with a total of 19 red cards throughout the 30 games. Only four though were for players from the top flight., plus one for Levante's assistant coach Manolo Ruíz, who had obviously picked up a few choice words from Bernd Schuster (sent off himself as well just a couple of weeks ago for insulting the referee). Apart from the three red cards for Celta players (now in the second division), the worst hit was Zaragoza, who lost both central defenders Alvaro and Milito within three minutes of each other for second bookable offences. As their club was knocked out of the competition, the pair will be suspended for the first cup match of next season. Straight reds though for Deportivo's Sergio (for fighting) and Mallorca's Iván Ramis (bad tackle), and under RFEF rules their one match bans were served out in the league fixtures at the weekend.

Referees had clearly got up to speed in the knockout competition, and there were six more red cards at the weekend. On Saturday Athletic's Gurpegui and Atlético's Paunovic were both sent off in their respective games after picking up second yellow cards, and on Sunday two of our old favourites Romero (Málaga) and Fernando Niño (Mallorca) got their marching orders, the former for a dubious second booking and the latter for a hard tackle. Betis striker Oliveira was also sent off in the match against Málaga for treading on Juanito's foot, and his manager Serra Ferrer was already in the stands for telling a very sensitive referee that he had a lot of cheek. Three players reached the five yellow card barrier and will be banned next week, including Sevilla's Javi Navarro and Martí, and Mallorca's Ballesteros (although he may be let off as he could have a yellow card from the week before cancelled). (02.11.04)