A matador has three chances to kill the bull cleanly by placing the sword essentially in a spot no bigger than two Eauros and directly into the heart
After that the president of the Corrida can issue a public warning. Such a warning signals the virtual end of a matadors career. It is a rarely used expediency. In such cases a sword with a small dagger on the end Known as a Descaballo is  used to pole axe the beast and put it out of its misery.

And the fourth bull of the evening Just died - Badly
A slow death - a death that shook the crowd to its conscience
Proud matador you can do better than that what is this nonsense.
You could have at least killed him clean
Does it mean that henceforth three attempts is the norm
I think not - listen to the scorn of the crowd
And yet no public warning
Why not doesnt the president give a Jot
It is his lot to castigate where the bull does not  castrate
Yet the crowd might have your balls
Can't you here the jeers and calls of maniacs all
Drawn to the call of Malaga in August

And yet you had your chance to kill cleanly save for
The glancing blow on neck bone preventing the mulleta
From going home into the heart of the beast
At least then it would have died quickly
The old man next to me shakes his head and jesticulates
His disgust at the death knell thrust of the Descabalo
'Whats it for' I dare to ask 
To cleanly Pole Axe the poor bloody animal
Ease the social conscience put it out of its misery
Cant you see Englishman
That this bull was not a good kill
This fool will surely lose his position in the league table
This killing will do his carreer little favour
'But what of the beast' I ask
'Dead meat' the reply
I darent even try to justify it
Save that the next bull will be better.