Rubinos Pérez was not Karpin's most popular person after he sent off the Russian midfielder in Real Sociedad's game at Deportivo La Coruña. Karpin was shown a second yellow card for ironically applauding the crowd as he was being substituted, but the player protested strongly on his website the following day, saying that Rubinos himself was inciting violence by his attitude, and that he was trying to show some sportsmanship by applauding in what may be his last game at the Riazor. Knowing Karpin's past history, Rubinos was probably right, although the appeals committee cancelled the card, presumably for lack of proof of his motives.

Villarreal's manager Pellegrini was visibly upset about the decision by Esquinas Torres not to award a late penalty to Guayre, earning himself a red card for a too vigorous protest, and there were complaints at other grounds for the same reason, particularly at Montjuic, where Medina Cantalejo missed a hands by Espanyol's Jarque in the area against Atlético, and at Soria, where Pérez Lasa turned down two late penalty appeals by Zaragoza against Numancia. (30.11.04)