Xerez midfielder Armenteros set something of a record this weekend when he picked up a red card for elbowing an opponent less than a minute after coming on as substitute! The incident upset his club delegate so much that he too was sent to the stands for his protests and gesticulations, and referee Velasco Carballo completed his "hat-trick" of red cards sending off Málaga's Duda ten minutes later after the ball hit his hand at point blank range inside the penalty area.

Five more red cards this weekend, including one for Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola in the first half for protesting, and one for his centre forward Ibrahimovic on the hour mark for an off-the-ball incident with Almería's Cisma. Espanyol's José Callejón was sent for an early bath after picking up a second booking for diving against Villarreal, and a frustrated Reyes was given a straight red for retaliating against Eliseu after suffering several hacking tackles from Zaragoza players without too much protection from the referee. And on Monday evening Valencia's David Navarro was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence in the 0-0 draw against Racing.

There were protests to the disciplinary committee on behalf of Duda, Guardiola, Ibrahimovic, Callejón, Reyes and Navarro, but the appeals fell on deaf ears, and all will be suspended for one match. Also banned for picking up fifth bookings of the season are Tiago (Atlético), Javi Márquez (Espanyol), Henrique and Pinillos (Racing), Fernando Navarro (Sevilla), David Fuster (Villarreal) and Gabi (Zaragoza), and Sporting's Gregory will also be on the sidelines after being shown his tenth yellow card, counting that is a booking which was handed to him by the CEDD in place of the red card which he received on day 21 against Almería. (09.03.10)