| A new
record for the year this weekend, with no less than eight players sent off as
tempers fray near the end of the season. Three of those came in the local
Basque derby between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad, with the visitors
ending up with nine men after Loren and then Xavi Alonso picked up two rather
excessive yellow cards each. Real's manager John Toshack got booked himself for
protesting Loren's sending off, and Alonso got his second for objecting too
much when his side were awarded a penalty! Oscar Vales got his marching orders
at the same time as Alonso, his second yellow for giving away the penalty which
made Real Sociedad sure of first division football next year. Spare a thought
too for Málaga's Pato. He had waited 36 weeks and 80 minutes for an
opportunity, and finally got a chance in the match against Racing. However
twelve minutes later he was on his way off after being given a red card for a
hard tackle. Two players sent off in the game between Rayo and Numancia, with
Pirri going first for the visitors and two goal hero Luis Cembranos joining him
near the end. Numancia's caretaker manager was furious at the referee as he
felt Cembranos should have been off before he got the winning goal.
Villarreal's Berruet was another one to go near the end of their game with
Celta. Frustrated at the defeat thanks to a controversial penalty, he walked
all over an opponent while he was on the floor. Finally Oviedo's Oli got
himself sent off for supposedly diving just before half time after getting a
first yellow for a heavy tackle on Roberto Carlos. True Iván Helguera's
boot may have left stud marks on his shoulder, but that is no reason for him to
fall to the ground holding his head as if kicked in the face. He left his team
with ten men for half the match, and their failure to get the three points
could cost them first division football if they lose at Mallorca next week.
(11.06.01) |
