A discrete performance in the two cup semi-finals from Mejuto González and Carmona Méndez, who both allowed football to take centre stage. Carmona did overdo it a bit at the weekend though with a first minute penalty and ten yellow cards in the game between Mallorca and Betis. Referees did get a bit of stick this weekend over penalty decisions and card showing, as usual borderline decisions which always upset someone. Iturralde González saw nothing wrong when Bonano lifted up his leg while on the ground to stop Pachón running on to a loose ball, and even awarded a yellow card to the Valladolid striker for supposedly diving. Looking at the television pictures afterwards, the Barcelona keeper was very lucky not to be sent off. However Iturralde also waved away Barcelona's appeals for a penalty when Sorín was brought down by Torres Gómez, so it all works out right in the end.

On the other hand Pino Zamorano did give two penalties in the match between Deportivo and Villarreal. Maybe the first on Jorge López was harsh but justified, but the second on Diego Tristán was non-existent, as Belletti clearly won the ball with his tackle. Ramírez Domínguez also produced a penalty out of his hat (or some other part of his clothing) for Alavés at Real Sociedad, but it didn't matter much as Real were already three up. The Alavés players did complain though that Xavi Alonso had fouled a defender in the play leading up to the first goal. And finally Rayo's lady president Doña Teresa Rivero protested about the performance of Pérez Lasa, saying that he gave too many cards to her team's players when "the one with the strange hair" (referring to Celta's Luccin) should have been sent off. If you take up refereeing in Spain, don't expect it to help you to make friends! (11.03.03)