What a contest we have on our hands! Only three cards separate our top four referees with one week to go, although Megia Dávila stays at the top and must be favourite to take the White Stick prize as he is the only one of the four who will be officiating next Sunday. González Vázquez put in a last push this weekend, producing seven yellows and three reds in the match between Albacete and Sevilla to draw level with Megia, Téllez Sánchez managed six yellows and a red in the Atlético - Zaragoza tie and Carmona Méndez clocked up seven yellows as Mallorca played Espanyol.

The man who will probably be most remembered this weekend though was Turienzo Alvarez for sending off David Beckham after he called his linesman (literally translated) a son of a whore. A few minutes earlier Turienzo had awarded a penalty against Helguera for hands, a dubious decision given that Mejía deflected Gancedo's pass at him from point blank range. Two more controversial penalty decisions in other matches as well, Daudén Ibáñez ruling that Alvarez had fouled Ronaldinho in the area (neither foul nor in the area was it) and Carmona Méndez awarding a spot kick for Espanyol after Maxi dived over Mallorca keeper Leo Franco. Pérez Burrull also upset Athletic Bilbao when he ruled out an early goal by Ezquerro against Osasuna for a non-existent offside. (18.05.04)