'Way to get those yellows!'

• by Soccer America , Feb 27, 2009

[REF WATCH] Vanderlei Luxemburgo, coach of Brazilian club Palmeiras, praised three of his players for intentionally getting yellow cards so they would serve an accumulated-caution suspension against a modest opponent.

Fabinho Capixaba, Pierre and Diego Souza got their third yellows of the Paulista season in a 4-2 win away to Sao Caetano. They will sit out this weekend against lowly Guarani but be eligible against archrival Corinthians a week later.

"If a player can get booked, I don't see any problem as long as it's a normal incident," said Luxemburgo. "You have to be crafty in soccer. It's part of the game.

"Taking your time over a throw-in or leaving the field when you have been substituted is part of the game. The rules say the referee must give a yellow card."

Fabinho Capixaba and Diego Souza were cautioned for delay of game and Pierre for repeated fouling.