Three red cards at the weekend, the first for Valencia's Albelda at Real Madrid for what the referee considered to be a second bookable offence for blocking the ball with his arm. Television pictures showed that the ball actually hit his shoulder and the appeal committee agreed, cancelling the second yellow and consequent ban. However the player repeatedly insulted the officials after being sent off by touching his cheek and calling them "caraduras" (shame-faced), and for that he was given a two match suspension. The club is expected to appeal against the appeal!

On Sunday two more players were sent off after picking up two yellow cards each, Espanyol's Raúl Baena (who was more sinned against than sinner), and Mallorca's Rubén, who protested so strongly from the subs' bench that he was given two bookings in succession. All will miss the next round of games together with seven players who reached the five yellow card threshold, Paulo Assunçao (Atlético), Javi Márquez (Espanyol), Boateng (Getafe), Fritzler (Hércules), Khedira (Real Madrid), Tino Costa (Valencia) and Rossi (Villarreal). (09.12.10)