A record number of red and yellow cards this week, even though it seemed relatively quiet on the field of play. Referees awarded a total of 56 yellows and 4 reds in a clear display of love for the sport, with Rodríguez Santiago heading the list with 11 cautions and a sending off, Mallorca's veteran manager Luis Aragonés. Medina Cantalejo also leaps up the table having refereed one and a half games this week, sending off Numancia's Manel on Sunday.

Our white stick award this week though goes to López Nieto, who awarded a penalty to Oviedo ten minutes from time for a foul on Oli, booking Celta's keeper Pinto for the challenge. Celta's defenders protested, and López finally sauntered over to the linesman who was standing quietly on the touchline. "They said the forward was offside, was he?", asked the ref. "Actually now you ask, yes he probably was" replied the linesman. To the anger of the local crowd, the referee disawarded the penalty and unbooked the goalkeeper.

We can't finish off here though without a good word (we do sometimes!) for the refereeing of Pérez Burrull in the potentially explosive Barça vs Real Madrid match. The referee controlled the game well and avoided further ugly incidents with his low key approach to the crowd's hysterical protests at Figo and company. His appeals to the spectators to stop throwing things (plastic bottles, coins etc) at the players fell on deaf ears though, and the club were fined a record amount of 1.5 million Pesetas for 15 separate incidents. Chapeau to the referee anyway for his calm throughout. (22.10.00)