Three of the four red cards
this weekend were for coaches, with Deportivo and Almería managers
Lotina and Olabe, and Sporting assistant manager Tejada, all sent off for
protesting. The only player to be given his marching orders was Hércules
forward Valdez, who was sent for an early bath after what the referee
considered was an elbow in the face of Racing's Cisma. The club presented video
evidence to the disciplinary committee though, and they cancelled the card,
agreeing that there was no real contact and that the defender appeared to have
exaggerated the incident. Valdez can now play in the midweek round of games,
although the damage has already been done as Hércules lost what was a
vital relegation battle. Eight other players will miss the day 36 games though
after completing the five yellow card cycle, Nekounam (Osasuna), Sergio Ramos
(Real Madrid) and Marcano and Víctor Sánchez (both Getafe), who
all picked up their tenth bookings, and Pedro Ríos (also Getafe), Crusat
(Almería), Diego Costa (Atlético) and Romaric (Sevilla), who were
all given their fifth. (10.05.11) |