In a development that has sent shockwaves through the Spanish second division, FC Andorra owner and former Barcelona stalwart Gerard Pique has been ha...
In a development that has sent shockwaves through the Spanish second division, FC Andorra owner and former Barcelona stalwart Gerard Pique has been handed a two month suspension from all football related duties. The punishment, confirmed by the powers that be at the Spanish Football Federation, follows a series of heated confrontations between the retired defender and match officials. Pique, who has been a vocal critic of officiating standards in the Segunda Division, was seen in a furious exchange with referees after his side. �s most recent outing. The ban means the Nigerian international turned club proprietor will not be permitted to operate in any capacity at the club for the duration of the sanction, a heavy blow for the Andorran outfit who depend heavily on his influence and financial muscle. The former Super Eagles talisman, if he were in Pique. �s boots, would surely advise caution, for the Spanish veteran has now also accumulated a series of escalating fines. Reports reaching GoalZaza indicate that the total financial penalty could run into millions of Naira, with the latest levy alone costing him approximately. ��16 million based on current exchange rates. At the end of the day, this is a steep price for Pique to pay for losing his cool on the pitch side. His outbursts, which have been described by the federation as. �conduct unbecoming of a club owner. �, have now left FC Andorra without their most formidable figure in the stands. In the scheme of things, this ban will test the resolve of the club. �s playing staff, who must now give a good account of themselves without the looming presence of their famous owner. Pique. �s absence from technical meetings and matchday protocols for the next two months will undoubtedly leave a void. For a club fighting to establish its identity in Spanish football, losing the lion. �s share of its leadership is a bitter pill to swallow. GoalZaza understands that the former Barcelona man is expected to appeal the decision, but for now, Andorra must soldier on without their most famous son. Back home in Lagos, the reaction among football fans gathered at viewing centers in Surulere and Ikeja has been one of disbelief mixed with a touch of schadenfreude. One can imagine the loud debates erupting over bottles of malt and pure water as patrons analyze the news on their phones. A man in a vintage Barcelona jersey might shake his head, insisting that Pique should have known better than to engage the referees so aggressively. Meanwhile, a younger fan clad in the green and white of the Super Eagles will likely argue that the punishment is too harsh, pointing out that club owners in the Nigerian league often escape with mere slaps on the wrist. Such is the passion of the Nigerian football faithful, who will now watch closely to see if Pique. �s Andorra can survive this test of character.
