| Given
that there is one body in Spain who run all national competitions, the
disciplinary proceedings for both league and cup matches are often combined.
For example a player sent off in a league match can serve out his suspension in
the cup and vice-verça. We have therefore changed the way we count cards
and games out to include both competitions. This means that yellow and red
cards picked up in the first two rounds of the 'Copa del Rey' are included for
the first time, which slightly changes our rankings. The only first division
players sent off in the first round of the cup in December were Pellegrino of
Valencia and Bolo and Mauro of Rayo (Mauro was later pardoned). There were
three more reds in last Wednesday's second round ties, all direct and all for
the same team, Las Palmas. Olías in the first half and then keeper
Cicovic near the end were sent off for fouls, and Vinny Samways got his
marching orders for mocking the referee and for foul and abusive language (in
quite fluent Spanish actually) after already getting the red card. A late
appology to the referee in the changing rooms saved our Vinny a long
suspension, although he did have to miss one game and as a result moves up to
third in our table. Three more sendings off in this week's league matches, two
for players, Real Sociedad's Corino and Alavés's Ibon Begoña for
two bookable offences each, and one manager, the fiery Víctor
Muñoz of Villarreal, who made an unrealistic (and rather painful)
suggestion as to where the referee could stick his whistle. Scottish fans will
remember that Víctor spent some time 'north of the border' picking up
some valuable managerial experience after retirng from FC Barcelona, and he
seems to be making full use of the brawling skills he must have learnt there,
being fined by his old club Lleida last season for hitting one of his players
who had stepped out of line. Can you sew? Well stich this then, Jimmy! Sorry,
how do you say that in Spanish? Ask Víctor! (08.01.01) |
