| Well,
the disciplinary committee have learnt their lesson, and there was no repeat of
overturning referees' decisions. Although there were five players sent off, the
officials performances this week were discreet, having made their point with
their card waving last weekend, and there was little to report, with only 49
yellow cards in all. Daudén Ibáñez upset Espanyol by
awarding a dubious penalty to Kluivert just as they were getting back in the
match against Barcelona, but then nobody is happy when that happens. The card
count was evenly spread, with nobody showing more than six yellows, and if we
have to give a white stick award to anyone it would be to newly promoted
Ramírez Dominguez, partly for his two reds against Las Palmas, but also
because, to the best of our knowledge, he hasn't won anything on our pages and
he is currently lying third behind two old favourites, Daudén and Bueno
Grimal. And so as ofter happens on quiet days, we turn to the second division.
And we have a winner! Valle Gil takes it hands down, and that was even before
he blew the whistle for the initial kick off. Betis reserve goalkeeper Valerio
was overhead by the fourth referee to say to one of the Albacete training staff
as the referee passed him "that's the thief who robbed us of promotion when I
was playing for Albacete". The official immediately snitched on the player, and
Valle Gil showed him a direct red card to the astonishment of all. Valerio was
not allowed to take his place on the bench, but luckily Toni Prats lasted the
90 minutes and his services were not needed. Actually Valle's performance was
taken close by Navas Lasa, the referee in the Sevilla versus Atlético
Madrid match, who showed no less than 12 yellows and three reds. As we've
always said, there's talent in abundance down there in the lower reaches, if
ever it's needed. Watch out for both of them. (11.12.00) |
