Barcelona figures have backed centre-back Gerard Pique, who faces a lengthy ban after being sent off for insulting a linesman during Barcelona's Spanish Super Cup second leg against Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou.
Pique was red-carded by referee Carlos Velasco Carballo during the second half of the Spanish Super Cup return game, after TV pictures showed him angrily protesting an offside call in the face of a linesman.
Barca's 10 men soon conceded a goal to Athletic centre-forward Aritz Aduriz, and the game ended 1-1 as the Basque club easily saw out a shock 5-1 aggregate win to claim the first silverware of the new Spanish season.
Velasco Carballo's official report says that Pique used foul and abusive language when shouting at the assistant -- an offence which generally leads to a three or four-match ban -- although Marca has reported the punishment could be as much as 12 matches.
"In minute 55 the player [3] Pique Bernabeu, Gerard was sent off for the following reason: shouting at an assistant referee - "I s--- on your f---ing mother", says the report.
Pique looks sure to miss Barca's opening 2015-16 La Liga game also against Athletic, at San Mames, on Sunday evening, as well as potentially sitting out further matches at home to Malaga on Saturday, Aug. 28, away at Atletico Madrid on Saturday, Sept. 12 and at home to Levante on Sunday, Sept. 20.
However, Barcelona announced on Tuesday that they would appeal the red card. The club denied Pique used the words as reported by the referee, saying in a statement:
"FC Barcelona have presented arguments against the red card shown to Gerard Pique in the 58th minute of the game against Athletic Club in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup.
"The argument put forward is that the player did not address the referee's assistant in the terms included by referee Velasco Carballo in his subsequent report."
Speaking on Spain's Telecinco channel after the game, Blaugrana midfielder Sergio Busquets said Pique had admitted to using bad language on the pitch, but claimed they had been uttered in general dismay not directed at the linesman.
"According to the referee, it was for saying 'I s--- on your f---ing mother' to the linesman," Busquets said live on TV. "I don't know. Pique says no, he said "ah f--- it", or something like that. There was no need. I believe there was no need to send him off, and even less for saying it. I don't believe he would have said that, but, well, the cameras are there for that, and we will see what the truth is."
The Catalan club's recently installed sporting director Robert Fernandez also defended his player, when speaking on Barca TV, reported in AS, saying officials should take into account that emotions are running high during a game.
"The referees should think that the players are in the heat of the moment," Robert said. "They should think twice before showing a red card. We knew it was going to be difficult, and the referee has damaged us, but I want to congratulate the team."
This is not the first clash between Madrid-based Velasco Carballo and Pique. Two seasons ago the Spain defender was sent off by the same official during a La Liga game against Sporting Gijon, and claimed afterwards the decision had been "premeditated" after the pair had argued in the tunnel at half-time of the game.