Veteran referee Pérez Burrull has been put in the proverbial "fridge" after his performance in the match between Real Madrid and Osasuna at the weekend. Pérez turned down two clear penalty appeals from Osasuna's Juanfran after he was brought down by Gago and then Pepe in the first half and second halves, both times showing a yellow card to the ex Real Madrid Castilla winger (the first for protesting, the second for diving).

When Juanfran was sent off, visiting club president Patxi Izco walked out of the director's box in protest, and the club launched an appeal against the two yellow cards. The disciplinary committee agreed (although they didn't cancel the booking for protesting) and penalised Pérez by replacing him as referee for the cup tie between Espanyol and Barcelona. He may not now officiate for a month or so. (20.01.09)