Gerard Pique's 'I s* on your w** mother' abuse could earn 12-game ban

Updated 18/08/2015 at 08:24 GMT

Barcelona star Gerard Pique could be banned for as much as 12 matches after telling an assistant referee “I s* on your w** mother”.

An assistant referee looks at Barcelona's defender Gerard Pique (R)

Image credit: AFP

Pique was dismissed after 55 minutes of Barcelona’s 1-1 draw in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Bilbao, which Barca lost 5-1 on aggregate.

The centre-back was unhappy with the assistant’s failure to flag for offside and reacted angrily.

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Referee Velasco Carballo detailed the incident in his official match notes.

"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," read the report.

Barcelona's defender Gerard Pique (2nd L) reacts after being sent off during the Spanish Supercup second-leg football match FC Barcelona vs Athletic club Bilbao at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 17, 2015

Image credit: AFP

Pique will certainly miss Barcelona’s first Liga match of the season against Athletic on Sunday.

Insulting match officials is a grave crime in Spain and can carry a ban of between four and 12 games, as laid out in La Liga’s code of conduct.

In Spain it is expected that Pique will be banned for four games, meaning he would miss matches against Athletic, Malaga, Atletico Madrid and Levante.

Liga