Muñiz Fernández was the latest official to hit the headlines. He refereed the game between Rayo Vallecano and Betis, and had to be given a police escort off the pitch after waving away a penalty appeal from the home side and then disallowing a valid goal by Michel in the last minute with the scores tied. Although the Rayo management (the controversial Ruiz Mateos family) are well known moaners, the team do seem to have been on the receiving end of some poor decisions recently. Doña Teresa and her family though see it as a conspiracy by the government (irrespective of who is in power), together with the football federation, and probably the three bears who for some dark reason want to see them in the second division. Does anyone really care that much to do that to them? In any case the family have announced that they will be selling the club if they go down to the second division.

The day before, Pino Zamorano was also in the news, more for what he didn't give than what he did. Bone crunching tackles from behind by Sevilla's Juanmi on Zidane and Fredi on Raúl which left the two stars on the injury list went relatively unpunished. Pino also awarded a controversial goal for Real Madrid, with the ball deflecting in off Makelele who the home side claimed was offside. However television images showed later that he was right, as a Sevilla defender was playing him onside. (01.04.02)