Villains

Any doubt about who is going to take our "Villains" prize this season ended when Diogo got himself sent off in Zaragoza's match at Sevilla. The Uruguayan defender will be having nightmares about the Andalusians after he was red carded for the second time against them this season, readers surely remembering his infamous boxing match with Luis Fabiano a few months ago. Diogo was sent off this time after picking up two bookings late on.

Five other red cards this weekend as things got back to "normal" following the referees' work to rule, including one for Ronaldinho for kicking out in retaliation at Getafe's Belenguer. The sports press were burning all week on this issue, curiously the Madrid papers saying it was a travesty of justice that he only got a one match ban, and the Barcelona papers saying he should have been let off. How surprising! Funnily enough Nàstic's Makukula was also red carded for retaliation, and nobody said anything!

The other three red cards were for Recreativo defender Merino (straight red for professional foul), for Betis midfielder Capi (two bookings - one for protesting and one for kicking the ball away just before half time), and for Betis coach Luis Fernández, who was sent in to the stands for a second bookable offence and then refused to move despite being told to do so by the "forces of order"!

Fernández will be in the stands when games resume after the international break though after being given a one match ban, and he will be joined by nine players who reached the next five card threshold, including Expósito (Athletic), Edmilson (Barcelona), De Guzman (Deportivo), Moha (Espanyol), Nacho (Getafe), Alvaro (Levante), Zigic (Racing), Miguel (Valencia) and Marcos Senna (Villarreal). (29.05.07)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Diogo (Zaragoza) 20 2 (1) 9* 32
Murillo (Athletic) 17 1 3 21
Ramos (Real Madrid) 15 1 4 20
Luccin (Atlético Madrid) 15 1 (1) 3 20
Ballesteros (Mallorca) 13 2 (1) 3 19
Luis Fabiano (Sevilla) 7 2 (2) 7 18
Gabi Milito (Zaragoza) 12 2 (1) 3 18
Deco (Barcelona) 13 1 (1) 3 18
Beckham (Real Madrid) 13 1 (1) 3 18
Cannavaro (R Madrid) 14 1 3 18
Alexis (Levante) 15 0 3 18
Lopo (Deportivo) 11 2 (1) 3 17
Tamas (Celta) 12 2 3 17
Zigic (Racing) 13 1 3* 17
Casquero (Getafe) 14 1 2 17
Alves (Sevilla) 15 0 2 17
Pablo García (Celta) 8 2 (1) 5 16
Nano (Betis) 8 2 (2) 4 16
Guti (Real Madrid) 9 2 (1) 4 16
Amorebieta (Athletic) 11 1 (1) 3 16
Javi Navarro (Sevilla) 13 1 2 16
Paredes (Getafe) 14 0 2 16