A lot to write about this week, starting with the cup. Disgraceful scenes in the derby match between Betis and Sevilla, with visiting coach Juande Ramos was knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from the crowd. The game was immediately abandoned by referee Undiano Mallenco and the disciplinary committee decided that the remaining half hour or so must be played out behind closed doors in a neutral ground (Getafe), although the date chosen in 3 week's time is already in doubt as it clashes with international week. .Betis's ground has been closed for 3 games (subject as always to appeal) and the actions of the two club presidents is being investigated to see whether their hostile actions in the build up to the game provoked the aforementioned scenes. Objects thrown from the crowd are becoming a major problem in Spain though, and in the same week Espanyol's Tamudo (at Osasuna) and Barcelona's Jorquera (at Zaragoza) were hit by bottles as well.

Back to football, and three red cards were shown in the four midweek cup quarter finals, including a straight one for Zaragoza's D'Alessandro after a supposed head-butt on Barcelona's Leo Messi. The youngster made a real meal of it though as it appeared to be no more than a touching of foreheads. Deportivo's Coloccini was sent off close to half time for a bad tackle in the game against Valladolid, and numbers were evened up when Víctor was given a second booking later on.

Six more red cards at the weekend, including the second of the season for Mallorca's hot headed physio Toni Servera for arguing. Three more came the day earlier in the top of the table clash between Sevilla and Barcelona, Aitor Ocio the first to go after giving away a first half penalty on Ronaldinho, Giuly getting a straight red for what the referee thought was a kick on an opponent, and Zambrotta picking up two yellow cards in the same incident, the first for a hard tackle and the second for protesting. Despite the fact that their next league match is against Real Madrid, Barça said they would not be appealing.

Nàstic left back Mingo was sent off for a second bookable offence early in the second half at Athletic Bilbao, which did not however prevent the Catalans from running out winners. And finally Atlético Madrid's Costinha was shown a straight red for a tackle from behind on an opponent. All will be joined in the stands next weekend by nine players who completed the next cycle of five yellow cards, including Espanyol's Moisés Hurtado and Zaragoza's Diogo (our leading villain) who both picked up their tenth bookings, and Tamas (Celta), Andrade (Deportivo), Rufete (Espanyol), Baraja and Silva (Valencia) and Mallorca's Nunes and Navarro (wasn't ex Barça president Nuñez's construction company called something like that?!?), all with five. (06.03.07)