| Image: The Independent. Available here. |
How did Cristiano Ronaldo get away with just a two-match ban for his red-card in Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Cordoba at the weekend?
Despite winning the Ballon d'Or for two years in a row, Real's talisman showed that he wasn't the 'perfect' footballer.
Cordoba defenders Edimar and Jose Angel Crespo were on the receiving end of a violent outburst, ending in the 29-year-old picking up a straight red.
Referee Alejandro Hernandez was left with no choice but to dismiss the star, following his frustrated outburst in the latter stages of a routine Los Blancos victory over struggling Cordoba.
La Liga's disciplinary committee have successfully highlighted Real's power in Spanish Football.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti would have been unavailable to select the prolific forward for the six-point clash with bitter rivals Atletico Madrid, had the compulsory minimum three-game ban for violent conduct been dished out.
Instead, just the menial Primera Division fixtures at the Bernabeu against David Moyes' Real Sociedad and Unai Emery's Sevilla will be missed by the Portugal captain.
The Madrid derby carries more significance than ever before, with the emergence of Diego Simeone's side as genuine title contenders. Real take their inner-city rivals seriously now, after their excellent campaign of 2013-14, in which Los Colchoneros finished in the hot seat of Spanish football.
Netting 28 goals in just 18 La Liga appearances, Ronaldo is at his peak. Real know that with-out their heart and soul in their lineup they don't pose the same threat to Atletico.
Ronaldo was quick to apologise after the incident. Although does that make it okay to be lenient in his case and reduce his ban by one game? Retrospective action needs to be taken.
Ronaldo's absence does provide some good news for the promising youngster Jese Rodriguez. The 21-year-old forward will probably have to be thrown in at the deep end, after recently returning from a substantial injury.
CR7's star status seems to have made the La Liga disciplinary committee a laughing stock of world football.
By Stephen Matthews
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