Pique told assistant: 'I s*** on your w**** mother'

By Miles Chambers

Pique told assistant: 'I s*** on your w**** mother' image
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was sent off for shouting "I s*** on your w**** mother" at the assistant referee during the Supercopa de Espana defeat to Athletic Bilbao.

Barca were leading 1-0 at Camp Nou on Monday as they attempted to claw back a 4-0 first-leg deficit when the centre-back reacted fiercely towards the linesman for failing to spot what he considered to be a clear offside call in the 55th minute.

The referee, Velasco Carballo, responded by giving Pique a straight red card, much to the despair of Luis Enrique's European champions who shortly afterwards conceded to an Aritz Aduriz strike to seal a 5-1 aggregate win for the Basque side.

In his referee's report after the Supercopa second leg, Carballo clarified the exact language which earned Pique his marching orders and potentially an extended ban.

"Fifty-five minutes in Barcelona's No.3, Gerard Pique Bernabeu, was expelled for the following reason: shouting 'I s*** on your w**** mother' at the assistant," his report reads.

Pique's flouting of Article 94 of La Liga's code of ethics - "using insults, verbal abuse or having an insulting attitude" - could see him suspensed for four to 12 matches.

The former Manchester United defender will definitely be absent for the first game of the season, which sees Barca return to San Mames to face Athletic on Sunday - nine days after they were hammered 4-0 in the first leg of the Supercopa.

By Miles Chambers