Little change in the referees rankings this week, with our top boys not in action. The 54 yellow cards and four reds between the eleven officials (Carmona Méndez pulled a muscle in the first half of his match and was replaced by the fourth referee) was a poor showing by their normal standards, and one of the lowest body counts of the season. The performance of the week was by Rodríguez Santiago, who produced nine yellows and two reds in the game between Rayo Vallecano and Las Palmas as well as awarding a penalty (which Las Palmas missed) and causing a near riot. Both managers felt they should have had more penalties, and Fernando Vázquez complained that his side had been treated worse. Nine of the eleven cards, including the two reds, went to his team.

There were other mistakes made though by our 'arbitros'. Undiano Mallenco failed to spot that an effort by Málaga's Litos had crossed the goal line before Mallorca's Nadal hooked it away, a decision which probably cost the Andalucians three points. Losantos Omar didn't see that Saviola carried the ball away with his arm before scoring Barcelona's second against Celta, then missed a tug by Xavi on Vagner's shirt in the penalty area. Mejuto González upset the Tenerife fans awarding a controversial penalty for a supposed foul by Lussenhoff on Real Madrid's Hierro that appeared to be the other way round, and Pérez Pérez ignored a clear hand ball by Espanyol's Rotchen in the penalty area with their game at Villarreal tied one all. It's time for another visit to the opticians boys! (10.12.01)