| One
thing became clear this week, that referees don't like their decisions being
overturned by the league appeals committee. And when they are, they take
matters into their own hands. Or so it seemed anyway, as two villains who had
suspensions cancelled in the last couple of weeks found themselves once again
on their ways to early baths with direct red cards. Last week's committee
corrected Daudén Ibáñez's overzealous performance,
cancelling Cagna's yellow card and deciding that Galván's formal apology
to the insulted linesman after the match was only worthy of a caution. The week
before Urrutia's fifth yellow card of the season was also annulled. So was it
really a surprise when Galván and Urrutia got their marching orders, two
of five sendings off this week? Urrutia's teammate Felipe Gurundez was already
running the bathwater when he came in to bathroom after Prados García
left Bilbao with nine men in their derby at Alavés. He also left the
home side with two men short for their next match after showing a fifth yellow
to Jordi Cruyff and Tomic (see white stick section for more). The other two men
sent off were Osasuna's keeper Nuno (see Zamoras) and Valladolid's Jesús
for a second bookable offence. In all referees were tough this week, with
several top villains getting their names in notebooks, including such
illustrious figures as Juanfran, Samways, Marini, Figo, Arzeno and Baraja.
Oviedo's Keita also received his fifth yellow card of the season, taking the
total to eight who should be suspended for next week. (04.12.00) |
