| Four
red cards this week, but two of the villains were not players but managers.
Real Sociedad's John Toshack and Athletic Bilbao's Txetxu Rojo clocked up a
unique Basque double when both were given their marching orders in their
respective games after getting two yellow cards. Toshack got his first card for
protesting a foul (he said "that was not a foul") and the second for leaving
his box to ask a linesman why he had dropped his flag after he had first
signalled offside when Numancia scored near the end. Rojo's first was for
protesting and his second was for protesting repeatedly, outside of his box,
"at the instance of a linesman". The referee probably asked the official
"qué dices..", and he replied "Rojo". So he gave him a red card. The two
other sendings off were also for protesting in the match between Racing and
Celta - it seems that nobody gets booked for fouls anymore. Celta's Cavallero
got the first yellow for shouting "offside, offside" when Espina scored in an
offside play, and Mostovoi got one in the same action for telling the referee
that "with you we know we are not going to win". Then in the 33rd minute
Esquinas Torres told him not to stand in front of the goalkeeper before a
corner. The Russian lifted his hands in the air and smiled at his colleagues as
if as to say what is he on about. That was taken as a sign of disrespect by the
referee, second yellow and off. Berizzo lost his cool and told the official
(six times apparently) "you are mad". That was enough for a direct red card.
Mostovoi was also reported for making a 'loads of money' gesture on his way off
the pitch. Berizzo apologised to the referee after the game. Mostovoi did not.
Other than the players sent off, six others are likely to miss next weekend's
games after picking their fifth (or tenth) yellow cards. These include
Esnaider, who will miss the game anyway as he has been called up by Argentina
for their next international, plus Jorge López, Frank De Boer, Marcos
(Valladolid's that is), Urzaiz and De Paula. (16.04.01) |
