Villains

A season high eight red cards this weekend, with last year's top "Villain" Amorebieta the first to go for a sliding tackle on Iniesta late in the first half of the match in a rainy San Mamés stadium. The fans rather unfairly thought that the usually honest Iniesta had over-reacted (even though he had to receive extensive medical treatment), and there were whistles every time he touched the ball after that, a contrast to the applause that the World Cup winner has been getting in other grounds this season. Later on Iniesta's team-mate David Villa was also shown a straight red for lashing out in retaliation at Gurpegui. One other red card on Saturday, but that was for Real Madrid's doctor for leaving his bench and stepping in to the managers' area to insult the officials! Mourinho's influence is even reaching the medical profession!

On Sunday Deportivo's Colotto was shown a straight red just before half time for flattening Almería's Piatti as he advanced on goal, and Osasuna's Lolo was shown two yellow cards for fouls on Espanyol's exciting new youngster Alvaro Vázquez with only a quarter of the match gone. Racing's Rosenberg was also sent off for a second bookable offence near the end of the game against Getafe, and later in the evening Atlético's Reyes was given his marching orders for elbowing Zaragoza's Contini from behind off-the-ball. Goodness knows what the Italian defender had done to Reyes to deserve that! One more red card the following day, Málaga's Eliseu sent for a very early bath after clashing with our old friend Marchena, who fell to the ground clutching his head as if he had been shot. Rookie referee José Antonio Teixeira Vitienes reported that Eliseu had head-butted the Villarreal defender, but TV images showed that he didn't even touch him! Again the fans booed Marchena after that, but in this case they certainly had good reason! (28.09.10)

PS. The disciplinary committe upheld Málaga's appeal and downgraded Eliseu's red card to a yellow, confirming that no contact had actually been made. Marchena was given no further penalty though, even though his actions probably cost Málaga the game. All other red cards have been penalized with a one match ban, apart from Madrid's Dr. Hernández Yañez, who was suspended for two. Some reports say Mou is taking a crash course in first aid just in case! (29.09.10)

Villains Yellow cards Red cards (straight) Games banned Total points
Forlín (Espanyol) 4 1 1 6
Rafa (Getafe) 4 1 1 6
Gámez (Málaga) 4 1 1 6
Navarro (Valencia) 4 1 1 6
Ujfalusi (Atlético) 1 1 (1) 2 5
Amorebieta (Athletic) 2 1 (1) 1* 5
Pepe (Real Madrid) 3 1 1 5
Carlos García (Almería) 1 1 (1) 1 4
Galán (Espanyol) 1 1 (1) 1 4
Eliseu (Málaga) 1 1 (1) 1* 4
Mosquera (Getafe) 2 1 1 4
Lolo (Osasuna) 2 1 1* 4
Rosenberg (Racing) 2 1 1* 4
Assunçao (Atlético) 4 0 0 4
Piqué (Barcelona) 4 0 0 4
Puñal (Osasuna) 4 0 0 4
Cigarini (Sevilla) 4 0 0 4
Dabo (Sevilla) 4 0 0 4
Botía (Sporting) 4 0 0 4
Eguren (Sporting) 4 0 0 4