Piqué Confronts Referee Over 'Bias Against Little Guys' in Andorra Win

Gerard Piqué confronted referee Eder Mallo Fernández at halftime during FC Andorra's 1-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruña, telling him "How easy it is to whistle against the little guys," as detailed in the official match report.

The exchange took place in Encamp as teams entered the tunnel after the first half. The Bilbao-based official, assigned to the Castile and León referees' committee, recorded that Piqué approached to challenge the disallowance of Lautaro's goal in the 28th minute—a decision upheld by VAR for a foul only Mallo spotted. Club staff held Piqué back during the protest, which prevented FC Andorra from leading at the break. Lauti de León's later strike secured the Tricolours' second straight win, lifting them clear of relegation spots to close out 2025 on a high note under coach Carles Manso, with backing from Piqué and Jaume Nogués.

Manso defended the annulled goal in his post-match briefing, calling it "completely legal" from his vantage. "To call a foul like that, it has to be clearer than I think it was," he said, planning a closer review. He touched on another flashpoint—a possible penalty on Álvaro Martín—saying his club loyalty initially suggested a spot-kick, but he avoided firm judgment without full certainty.

This marks a repeat incident, with Mallo previously noting Piqué's complaints in a match report, potentially inviting sanctions for the club.

Off-field friction arose too. Deportivo coach Antonio Hidalgo decried nonstop insults from fans behind his bench, including family jabs, that persisted 90 minutes. "We can't have people insulting for 90 minutes. Not everything goes," he said, urging league-wide action and reflection.

Manso reported hearing "some commotion" but stayed locked on the game. He firmly rejected any disrespect: "If there was any lack of respect, it cannot be allowed. Football is a sport of values."