Barcelona's Gerard Pique Allegedly Subjected To Homophobic Abuse By Espanyol Fans In Catalan Derby

La Liga are investigating reports Gerard Pique was targeted with homophobic chants during the Catalan derby between Barcelona and Espanyol.

Pique was one of three players to be sent off in an ill-tempered match at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday.

The 35-year-old was reportedly targeted by Espanyol fans throughout the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

Pique was sent off late in the 2-2 draw on Sunday (Image: PA)

According to Spanish outlet Marca, a report by La Liga has highlighted three separate chants by Espanyol fans that could land the club in trouble with the football authorities in Spain.

The three chants were heard a combined 14 times during the match, according to the report.

One of the chants was aimed specifically at Pique and his wife, pop star Shakira.

“Pique, you b******, Shakira has a d***. Your son is Wakaso's, and you are a f*****,” the Espanyol fans are alleged to have chanted.

The chant references Ghanaian midfielder Mubarak Wakaso, who played for Espanyol in the 2012-13 season.

Pique and Espanyol’s Nico Melamed were both sent off after clashing in the 92^nd minute of last weekend’s match, before Luuk de Jong scored a 96^th minute equaliser for Barcelona.

Manu Morlanes was then sent off for Espanyol at the end of the game.

Pique has been targeted by Espanyol supporters for a number of years after previously mocking Barcelona’s rivals for being unable to fill their own stadium.

Pique has been targeted in the past by Espanyol supporters (Image: PA)

Speaking after Barcelona had beaten Espanyol 4-1 in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final in 2016, Pique said: “They call themselves the ‘marvellous minority’, and they're in such a minority that they can't even fill their ground.

“Let's see whether they manage to fill it for the return leg, because the other day [in the league meeting] it wasn't full.”

La Liga’s weekly report to the RFEF Competition Committee and the Anti-Violence Commission on prohibited and punishable behaviour also highlighted inappropriate chanting from supporters in last weekend’s games between Cadiz and Celta Vigo, and Alaves and Valencia.

Topics: Barcelona, Football, Gerard Pique, La Liga, Espanyol

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan