Spanish FA Suspends Piqué 6 Matches After Ref Clash

The Spanish Football Federation imposed a six-match suspension and a two-month ban from official football activities on Gerard Piqué, the former Barcelona and Spain defender who co-owns second-division club FC Andorra, following a post-match confrontation with a referee.

The incident occurred after FC Andorra's 1-0 home defeat to Albacete on May 1. According to the match referee, Alonso de Ena Wolf, in his post-match report, Piqué followed him aggressively through the tunnel to the referees' dressing room, protesting the officiating. The referee quoted Piqué as saying, "Leave with an escort so nobody attacks you," and "In another country they would beat you up, but here in Andorra we are a civilized country." The federation cited these remarks, along with acts of minor violence toward officials, as undermining sporting dignity and decorum.

Piqué, 39, retired from playing in 2022 after a distinguished career that included nine La Liga titles, three Champions League trophies with Barcelona, and major international successes with Spain, such as the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. He and an investment group acquired FC Andorra in 2018, elevating the club from Spain's fifth tier to its...