The Spanish Football Association’s Competition Committee has handed Gerard Piqué a four-match ban. The defender will therefore be forced to sit out Barcelona’s upcoming La Liga games against Athletic de Bilbao, Málaga, Atlético de Madrid and Levante.
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The suspension follows Piqué’s sending-off in the Spanish Super Cup second leg, for which Piqué apologised on social media on Tuesday, although he denied having insulted the linesman. Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo claimed in his match report that Piqué had called the assistant in question a “son of a b*tch”, among other verbal abuse.
The centre-back’s absence will be a massive blow to Luis Enrique, who is down to the bare bones in defence.
