The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has handed down a significant punishment to former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué. The owner of FC Andorre has been suspended for six matches and banned from participating in any official football-related activities for two months. The disciplinary action comes after Piqué publicly criticized the match officials following his club's recent Liga 2 fixture.
The incident occurred after FC Andorre suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat at the hands of Albacete. Piqué directed his criticism specifically at the referee for the match, Ena Wolf. The RFEF's disciplinary commission deemed these comments worthy of a substantial sanction, leading to the dual punishment of a match ban and a broader activity suspension.
Piqué was not the only club official to face consequences. The president of FC Andorre, Ferran Vilaseca, received an even longer suspension from football activities, lasting four months. The club's sporting director, Jaume Nogues, was sanctioned identically to Piqué, receiving a six-match suspension and a two-month ban from official football duties.
The sanctions extend beyond individual punishments to affect the club itself. The RFEF has ordered FC Andorre to close its presidential box and VIP areas for two upcoming matches. Additionally, the club has been fined 1,500 euros as part of the disciplinary measures.
These penalties highlight the strict stance the Spanish football authorities take against public criticism of match officials. For Piqué, who transitioned from a celebrated playing career at FC Barcelona to club ownership, this serves as a stern warning about the boundaries of acceptable commentary from club stakeholders.
The suspension will impact Piqué's ability to be involved in the day-to-day running of FC Andorre during the two-month period. The match bans for both him and the sporting director will also affect the club's technical presence during a crucial phase of the Liga 2 season.
Based on reporting from Foot - actualités, mercato, info & vidéo en continu.