It seems nowadays that managers are worse offenders than players, and this week certainly confirmed the trend. Two of the five red cards this weekend were for Levante's Bernd Schuster and his assistant manager Manolo Ruiz, the second time each of them have been sent off this season. Both were understandably upset when Megia Dávila disallowed a goal and changed his mind about a penalty decision, although Schuster didn't do his cause any good after the referee reported him for calling him an "enano cabrón" (literally a bastard dwarf) behind his back, a remark which the fourth official overheard. Racing Santander manager Lucas Alcaraz could be in trouble too as the referee Muñiz Fernández reported him for telling him to "stick it up his a*se" at the end of the match with Real Madrid. If this carries on the referees' reports (which can be read on www.rfef.es - datos competición) should carry an X censor!

The other three red cards were though for players, including goalkeepers Víctor Valdés and Riesgo, as reported in our Zamoras section. Betis defender Luis Fernández was also sent off just a few minutes after coming on as a late substitute in the Sevilla derby, in his case for a second bookable offence. Five players will also be taking their holidays early after completing the cycle of five yellow cards. Osasuna's Pablo García is on line for a place in the record books after he became the first player this season to hit the ten bookings mark, taking him way out in front in our chart. The other four who reached the more modest total of five were Jesule and Ian Harte of Levante, Antonio of Numancia and Marchena of Valencia.

Finally a follow up to last week's report on the first fines for racist chanting in the match between Albacete and Barcelona. The local police identified the two worst offenders with the help of the Albacete management and slapped fines of €6,000 and bans on each of them. Hopefully this will serve as a lesson to all that at last the authorities mean business. (20.12.04)