| Something had upset referees this week, or perhaps they
were just bursting with energy after taking their physical tests last week. Was
it that they were unhappy with the appeals committee going against them (see
Villains section), or did they just want to show the hard men of football, many
of whom were returning from suspension, who was boss? They sure did that, with
a record 65 yellow cards and five reds, three of which were direct, a real
night of the long knives for Spanish football. There were some sterling
performances, such as López Nieto who sent off the Osasuna keeper Nuno
in the first half for "impeding a clear goal opportunity" when Raúl's
touch had sent the ball skimming towards the corner flag before he was brought
down. Muñiz Fernández showed nine yellows and Turienzo Alvarez
eight, but there was only one name on the white stick award this week, that of
Prados García. There are three or four Spanish referees who nobody can
touch when they are on form, and this man is one of them. Having passed his
physicals at the second attempt after "digestive problems" (see week 12
report), he wanted to show that he was as strong as the best of them. With his
usual show of histrionics, he reduced Bilbao to nine men, awarded a
non-existent penalty to Alavés and then missed one that was clear for
the same side (that's all right then) and left Alavés two short for
their next match after showing a fifth yellow card to Cruyff and Tomic within
the ten yellows he produced in the match (which also included the head of the
Bilbao delegation José María Nuñez). His performance even
proked a negative reaction from the home fans, and their ground could be closed
after a linesman was hit in the eye by a flying object. With referees like
that, who needs enemies? (04.12.00) |
