Most of the games this weekend were played on 6th January, the last day of Christmas but better known as the three kings' day in Spain, when parents traditionally give gifts to their children. As in many countries bad kids only get given coal, or in this case red and yellow cards, although most referees were in a generous mood and there was little trouble in most grounds. Even the managers didn't complain about the officials for once, except that is for Zaragoza's Txetxu Rojo, but then he always moans about something, so no change there.

Only two referees didn't have a very merry Christmas it seems, at least looking at their performances over the weekend. Megia Dávila and Losantos Omar tied for the highest number of cards shown (ten yellows and two reds each), and between them produced over one third of the day's total. Megia also awarded a penalty to visitors Valencia near the end which was hotly contested by the Betis players, and he had trouble getting off the pitch at the end as the ground erupted. Even so Juande Ramos was magnanimous in defeat, preferring to congratulate his players on a good game rather than stir anything up.

Elsewhere a valiant performance by Undiano Mallenco, who risked the ire of the Bernabeu faithful awarding a penalty to Deportivo and turning down two appeals by Real Madrid as well as disallowing a goal by Morientes. Madrid didn't need any help though as they took Depor apart, and the referee's performance was not even mentioned by the players and press (may have been different had they lost though). Earlier in the week there was a first in the same stadium when the only woman referee in the second division B Carolina Domenech took charge of the friendly match between Real and Atlético which opened Real Madrid's centenary year. Carolina, who comes from a refereeing family and is married to a linesman, was obviously a success and received a kiss on the cheek from Iván Campo and Stankovic after the game. Not that was a first in refereeing circles! (07.01.02)