RFEF Bans Piqué 6 Matches, Closes Andorra Stadium After Albacete Loss Clash
FC Andorra faces sanctions from the RFEF Disciplinary Committee for post-match incidents versus Albacete, including aggressive acts toward officials as detailed in the referee's report. Piqué held accountable despite non-official role.
Key Points
- RFEF imposes 2-match partial stadium closure at Nou Estadi de la FAF, targeting Piqué's VIP areas, plus €1,500 fine.
- Gerard Piqué and Jaume Nogués get 6-match bans and 2-month disqualifications; president Vilaseca faces 4 months.
- Incidents involved alleged violence against officials in tunnel and parking lot, per referee report.
- Club denies claims, plans legal action; prior fines exceed €40,000 this season.
The RFEF Disciplinary Committee has imposed sanctions on FC Andorra following incidents after the club's 0-1 defeat to Albacete Balompié in LaLiga Hypermotion, including a two-match partial closure of the Nou Estadi de la FAF in Encamp.
Gerard Piqué, the club's majority shareholder, received six-match suspensions and two months of disqualification, as did sporting director Jaume Nogués. Club president Ferran Vilaseca faces a four-month suspension, while delegate Cristian Lanzarote must serve three matches and two months. Among the technical staff, coach Carles Manso, physiotherapist Enrique Agudo, and kit man Jonathan Barreal each got one-match bans; goalkeeping coach Daniel Ortiz received two matches.
The club also faces a 1,500-euro fine, with the stadium closure limited to the presidential box and adjacent VIP areas—spaces typically used by Piqué and Nogués. The committee classified the actions as acts of minor violence against officials, citing the referee's match report and supplementary annex detailing confrontations in the tunnel and stadium parking lot.
Referee Alonso De Ena Wolf described aggressive and challenging behaviour from club members, including Piqué, despite his non-official role. The committee held him accountable, ruling he effectively performs directorial functions.
FC Andorra had disputed the referee's account in a statement, denying specific claims such as Vilaseca attempting to strike an official, Nogués wishing an accident on the referees, and asserting the delegate tried to calm tensions. The club gathered evidence, including footage, to challenge the version and reserved the right to legal action.
Piqué publicly criticised De Ena Wolf on social media beforehand, claiming the club had asked the CTA to bar him from future matches due to perceived bias and poor decisions, including four red cards for protesting.
The sanctions come amid prior fines exceeding 40,000 euros this season for similar issues. Aitor Yeto will lead the bench on Sunday against Las Palmas, as Manso and Ortiz remain unavailable.
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