After recent criticisms from all sides, referees decided to keep a low profile this week. A new record low of 43 yellow cards and one red was the sum total of the ten matches, an average of below five a game. The weekend started though with a massive protest at the Balaidos stadium, where Celta's management dished out thousands of red cards for the fans to show when the officials came on the pitch, and also orchestrated a chant of 'estamos hasta los huevos...' to the tune of Guantanamela' to accompany them. We are not sure whether the lady fans sang the same words, or whether there was a female version for them to sing. In any case Medina Cantalejo had a discreet match, only showing two cards in all in a match which was fairly boring all round.

There were still one or two more minor protests from players and managers about the officials' performances though. Rayo's lady president Teresa Rivero complained (but then she always does) that her side were robbed again by Rodríguez Santiago. She may have had a point though about two penalty appeals for fouls on Peragón and Bolic by Nadal, but not for Ferrón's disallowed goal early on, which was clearly offside. Osasuna can feel hard done by as Ansuategui Roca failed to spot that Luiz Alberto's equalising goal was scored with his upraised hand in their local derby against Real Sociedad, and Espanyol's Paco Flores moaned that the sending off of Rotchen against Las Palmas had cost them a possible win at Tenerife. Málaga's players complained that Daudén Ibáñez was very 'casero', favouring the home side Barcelona by giving them the benefit of the doubt in decisions leading up to two of their goals, and awarding two rigorous penalties, both committed by Valcarce on Saviola. Nothing really controversial though for once, but then our top six boys were not in action, were they? Fireworks next week when they come back refreshed? (04.03.02)