Becks sees red again after more Argy-bargy

'But the ref decided it was another card. I knew I was going off because the ref had been like that all day, not just with Real Madrid but Valencia as well. I don't know what the first card was for. Even if I did say something to the ref, he wouldn't have understood it!

'The mentality is different in Spain. You can get away with things in the Premiership that you definitely can't get away with here - and the sendingoff proves that.'

Beckham will now miss next Wednesday's trip to Valencia, who were also reduced to 10 men two minutes later when David Albelda was shown a second yellow, in the quarter-final of the cup. However, the Spanish champions will be hoping goals from Raul, Ronaldo and Figo will be enough to see them safely through.

Beckham received his first marching orders as Glenn Hoddle's England crashed out of the quarter-finals of the World Cup against their South American rivals on penalties.

His second dismissal was while playing for Manchester United in the much-maligned World Club Championship against Mexican side Necaxa in January 2000. There he was shown red by an Argentinian referee.

Beckham was injured earlier this month in the 1-0 victory over Murcia after a challenge by Argentinian midfielder Jose Luis Acciari and he was involved in an ugly confrontation last month with Argentina player Lionel Scaloni, who accused the England star of making obscene gestures towards him during Real's 2-1 triumph over Deportivo La Coruna, which ended in a mass brawl.

Beckham reacted to a challenge and both players ended up rolling around on the pitch before other players joined in. He also exchanged words with old foe Aldo Duscher, who broke the bone in Beckham's left foot during a Champions League clash two years ago at Old Trafford which meant he wasn't fully fit for the 2002 World Cup Finals.

Beckham was also the target for several bruising challenges during Real's earlier cup win at Leganes, who fielded nine Argentinians.