His nickname is Little Dracula and he has frightened the life out of many a Mexican football player, not to mention fan. Marco Antonio Rodr?guez, the referee in charge of England's opening game against Paraguay today, is a man to be feared and not just for his brooding looks, slicked back hair and toothy smile.
The Mexican has a reputation as an unbending disciplinarian who loves dealing out cards to players who dare cross him. His performance in the final of Mexico's Apertura tournament in December, when he sent off three Monterrey players and virtually guaranteed Toluca the title, was a perfect example of his card-happy displays. Toluca won the second leg 3-0 to take the title 6-3 on aggregate and Rodr?guez had to be protected by police.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1794353,00.html
The Mexican has a reputation as an unbending disciplinarian who loves dealing out cards to players who dare cross him. His performance in the final of Mexico's Apertura tournament in December, when he sent off three Monterrey players and virtually guaranteed Toluca the title, was a perfect example of his card-happy displays. Toluca won the second leg 3-0 to take the title 6-3 on aggregate and Rodr?guez had to be protected by police.
http://football.guardian.co.uk/worldcup2006/story/0,,1794353,00.html
