Complaints from Real Madrid this week after Gato Romero one match ban was put on hold by the CEDD pending further investigation. The "suspensión cautelar" by the appeal committee meant that the Málaga midfielder could play against Madrid at the weekend, curiously the second time he has been let off in three years before this fixture. With Valencia's Baraja also pardoned earlier in the season prior to playing the "Galacticos", some members of Madrid's management team suggested that having a game coming up against them was probably sufficient reason for the committee to allow an appeal!

A quiet weekend for once, with only two red cards, and one of those for Getafe's physical trainer for protesting too much to the referee. The only player to get sent off was Athletic Bilbao's Luis Prieto, who picked up two bookings in the match at Levante. Another five players will miss next weekend's games after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season, including the aforementioned Romero (assuming that is that only one of his yellow cards from the week before was put on hold). Romero's team mate Miguel Angel also reached the five card threshold, as did Pinillos (Levante), Regueiro (Racing) and Albelda (Valencia).

Finally a mention for Senegal's Pape Thiaw, who was shown a red card for a heavy tackle on an opponent just seconds after having an argument with De Lucas over who should take a penalty committed against the Alavés striker. It seems that he was so upset about not being allowed to take the spot kick that he threw a complete wobbly! The forward only speaks French though, and probably didn't understand that De Lucas had been designated to take all the penalty kicks. (09.11.04)