Gerard Pique was given a red for insulting ref Velasco Carballo’s linesman during the Spanish Super Cup second leg which Barca drew to Athletico Bilbao but lost on aggregate. He was apparently incensed at an offside call and walked up to the linesman and let him have it.

Cursing an official is considered a serious regulatory offense and can carry a ban of four to 12 matches. So where does “Me cago tu el Madre” which is what the linesman reported fall in the spectrum of insults? Pique disagreed, his was a more innocuous “eff it.”