Real Madrid felt that Mejuto González failed to protect their players in the match at Valladolid. Two or three heavy tackles went unpunished, in particular Nivaldo on Higuaín and César Arzo on Van der Vaart, and neither Mejuto nor his linesman saw Nivaldo step on Ronaldo's shin while he was lying on the ground. Valladolid themselves though thought they should have had a couple of early penalties, and they complained that the photos which appeared in the press of Ronaldo's battered leg were not all caused by their players! (16.03.10)