White Stick Awards

The big refereeing story this week came from the Champions League, where Norway's Tom Henning Ovrebo upset the Chelsea contingent by turning down three or four penalty appeals against Barcelona, as well as producing a red card for Abidal which was also hotly disputed. We even heard comments from English reporters that UEFA should appoint top class (ergo more professional) referees from the bigger countries, including Spain!

Tell that to Osasuna who, after a quiet period recently, are once more seeing "a black hand against them". Last year they complained bitterly against some bad decisions, but eventually escaped relegation at the end of the season. This year though "Nightmare on Sadar Street II" has returned in the form of César "Freddy Kruger" Muñiz Fernández, who sent off Miguel Flaño and awarded a penalty to relegation rivals Getafe early on in the first half of their match. Coach Camacho complained that they have had five players red-carded and two penalties against them in their last four games, which was "not normal". Will they live to see episode III? (12.05.09)

PS It seems the disciplinary committee didn't agree with all of Muñiz's decisions, but the one they overturned was the sending off in the second half of Getafe's Adrián González (son of coach Michel). Adrián's red card was downgraded to a yellow, which means his dad can use him again next weekend!

Name Games played Yellow cards Red cards Total
Velasco Carballo 20 152 14 166
González Vázquez 18 149 16 165
Muñiz Fernández 20 141 14 155
Clos Gómez 21 122 22 144
Pérez Lasa 21 123 7 130
Teixeira Vitienes 22 117 12 129
Iturralde González 20 116 9 125
Alvarez Izquierdo 19 109 13 122
Rubinos Pérez 19 112 8 120
Ayza Gámez 18 106 11 117