The football world is abuzz with the news that former Barcelona stalwart Gerard Pique, now the owner of FC Andorra, has been handed a two month ban by...
The football world is abuzz with the news that former Barcelona stalwart Gerard Pique, now the owner of FC Andorra, has been handed a two month ban by the powers that be. This disciplinary action follows an intense altercation the Spanish icon had with the match official after his side suffered a narrow 1. 0 loss to Albacete in the Spanish second division. The incident occurred at the conclusion of the fixture, with Pique allegedly engaging the referee in a row that has now cost him dearly both in terms of time on the sidelines and his standing within the game. According to exclusive reports gathered by GoalZaza, the ban is a significant blow for the ambitious Andorra project. The Nigerian football community remembers Pique as a formidable defender who gave a good account of himself during his prime, and now this episode has placed a shadow over his administrative career. In the scheme of things, the lion's share of the blame falls on the clash of tempers that should have been avoided on the pitch. At the end of the day, Pique must now watch from the stands as his team navigates the remainder of the season without his direct influence. For Nigerian fans, this news brings to mind the discipline of our own Super Eagles talisman, Victor Osimhen, whose passion is admired but always tempered with professionalism. It is a sharp contrast to the raw emotions that saw Pige lose his cool. For the viewing centers in Surulere or the fan parks in Abuja, this story will surely spark debates. Over plates of jollof rice and cold bottles of malt, the fans will nod their heads in disappointment, saying that even a giant like Pique must learn to respect the referee's authority. The general consensus will be that in football, emotional control is as vital as tactical brilliance.
