The disciplinary committees were in action midweek, cancelling two of the red cards shown in the previous round of matches. Mallorca's Ballesteros was one of the players to be pardoned, the second time he has had a red card cancelled this season. And Zaragoza's Toledo was the other, a relief for his manager Víctor Muñoz, who would otherwise have been without a left back for the game against Real Sociedad.

Víctor's joy was short lived though as his side lost to the Basque team, even though their opponents played a few minutes with ten men after Aranburu was sent off for a second bookable offence. Víctor was to follow him into the referee's little black book after making rather impractical suggestions about what he would like to do to the referee's mother. For those who understand Spanish and want to learn some more colourful language, you can read the referee's report at www.rfef.com.

Four more red cards at the weekend as well as the two at the Romareda stadium, the most controversial of which was Antonio López's sending off in the sixth minute for a foul on Raúl in the Madrid derby. Getafe's Diego Rivas picked up his second red card of the season in his side's defeat at Betis (again for two yellows), and he heads our villains table outright this week.

Elsewhere Espanyol's Armando Sá was shown a straight red late in the game against Cádiz, and Athletic's Tarantino got his marching orders for a second caution against Sevilla. Curiously he only came in to the side to replace the suspended Casas, who was sent off two weeks ago. And finally Zaragoza's Alvaro is the second player to complete the five yellow card cycle, and will sit out not only the last league match but also the cup tie due to a one match ban held over from last season. (18.10.05)