FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has been given a ban despite refuting claims he used vulgar language to verbally abuse an assistant referee.
Read: Ref Reveals Pique's Disgusting Insult
The Spanish international has been given a four-match ban after receiving a red card for angrily protesting with one of the match officials in Barcelona’s Spanish Super Cup aggregate loss to Athletic Bilbao on Monday.
Following his dismissal, the referee noted in his match report that it was Pique’s vulgar language that saw him get sent off.
The defender took to social media to apologise for his actions, but denied insulting the assistant referee.
“I apologise for the attitude I used to protest with the linesman, it was not correct,” he said on Twitter.
“It was a very tense match in which a lot was at stake.
“However, at no time did I say any kind of insult towards him.”
Read: Iniesta: Pique Cost Us Sextuple
Reports initially suggested Pique could have faced a ban of up to 12 matches but will now only miss the first four games of the new La Liga season.
Do you think Barcelona will struggle to cope without Pique in their defence? Let us know in the comments section below.
