Andorra‘s strong start to the Segunda Division season came to a halt last Saturday in a 2-1 loss to Leganes. Early second-half goals from Duk and Naim Garcia gave the visitors the advantage, while Gael Alonso’s strike proved too little, too late. The match, however, attracted more attention for what happened off the pitch. According to the referee’s official report, multiple incidents broke out involving Andorra staff and owner Pique. The club, owned by the former Barcelona defender, has repeatedly found itself in the headlines for disciplinary issues this season, and Saturday’s events have added to the scrutiny.
Referee Saul Ais Reig documented the incidents in detail. The club’s performance analyst, Julian Ezequiel Pedernera Escurti, approached the assistant referee post-match, telling them: “You’re all shameless.” Moments later, Pique himself reportedly knocked on the referees’ dressing room door and said: “This is a f*cking disgrace. Go ahead and include it in your report if you want.”
This is not an isolated occurrence. Just a week prior, the club was fined €15,000 after serious incidents in a match against Mirandes. Pique, alongside general manager Jaume Nogues and first-team director Carles Manso, was involved. While two individuals received sanctions, Pique could not be sanctioned due to Article 3 of the RFEF Disciplinary Code, which exempts club owners from disciplinary action.
The former World Cup winner’s outburst and the club’s ongoing disciplinary issues have wider consequences. They could influence how referees handle matches involving Andorra in the future and affect the perception of the club among fans and rival teams. For La Liga 2, where margins are fine and competition is fierce, repeated controversies could invite closer scrutiny from league authorities.
Although Pique cannot be sanctioned, the club faces a decision on managing internal conduct and preventing future incidents. Strengthening communication between staff, officials, and players will be crucial, particularly in high-stakes matches. From a footballing perspective, Els Tricolors will need to focus on securing points in the league to maintain competitiveness, while ensuring that off-field controversies do not derail the season.
