Referees were in a bit of a bad mood this weekend, showing the highest number of cards of the season to date, 65 yellows and 6 reds. The talking point of the week though was the decision by Téllez Sánchez to allow Valladolid's equalising goal against Real Madrid to stand after a whistle was heard from the pitch. Madrid's defenders stood still as Fernando tucked the ball in the net, but the referee said that he had waved play on after Karanka brought down Torres Gómez, and that he had not blown for a foul. After a long search it now appears that Valladolid's own Johnny Morris, Colombia's Harold Lozano, had imitated the sound of the whistle, although of course he and all his team are denying it. This was only the second match that Téllez has refereed in the first division, and he is a Catalan to boot. It didn't go down too well at the Bernabeu.

The highest number of cards in the day went to another of the new referees, González Vázquez, with twelve yellows and a red in the match between Valencia and Alavés. It was a bit heavy handed to say the least, and one hopes that the new boys tone it down a bit once they have settled in. In fact three of the top six spots go to the rookies, with one of last year's debutantes, Undiano Mallenco, heading the table. He too gave out nine more yellows, although in the hard fought derby between Depor and Celta it was probably justified. As many will have seen, Manuel Pablo was rushed off to hospital after breaking his leg in two places after an unfortunate tackle by Giovanella.

Elsewhere Ramírez Domínguez missed two hand balls in the penalty area from Barcelona defenders in the second half of the game at Real Sociedad, and Turienzo Alvarez upset Sevilla's manager by turning down a late penalty appeal on Reyes. Two of our old favourites also made the headlines this week, with last year's white stick winner Daudén Ibáñez disallowing a valid Dely Valdés goal against Bilbao early on (they lost as a result), and Esquinas Torres, making a late start to the season after missing a game through illness, trying to make up lost ground by leaving Zaragoza with nine men at Tenerife. (01.10.01)