Barcelona star Gerard Pique has been banned for four matches by the Spanish soccer federation after he was sent off for insulting a linesman in Monday's Spanish Super Cup second leg against Athletic Bilbao.
The La Liga side can appeal and may get the sanction reduced but if that fails the Spain international will miss the Spanish and European champions' opening four La Liga matches, including Sunday's trip to play Bilbao and the game at Atletico Madrid on September 12.
Pique said he was sorry on Tuesday but denied using insulting language, which was reported as 'I s*** on your f***ing mother.'
He said on Twitter: 'I want to apologise in the manner in which I protested towards the linesman, it was not correct.
'It was a game with a lot of pressure in which we were playing for a title. However, at no time did I insult him.'
With Barca attempting to overturn a 4-0 deficit from the first leg and leading 1-0 on the night, he was shown a straight red card 10 minutes into the second half at the Nou Camp.
Referee Carlos Velasco Carballo acted after Pique strode angrily up to the linesman and yelled in his face.
Carballo's report said: '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.'
Bilbao levelled the score at 1-1 on the night 16 minutes from time to secure a 5-1 aggregate success.
A Barca spokesman said the club had not yet decided whether to lodge an appeal.
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