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) |