Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has escaped without a fine despite surfing on holiday with Shakira while supposedly injured.
Pique missed Barcelona’s most recent game against Getafe after picking up an injury. Ronald Koeman’s men still managed to secure a 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp in his absence.
While Pique is well within his rights to sit out football matches if he’s carrying an injury, especially at his age, he probably shouldn’t be going surfing with partner Shakira, either…
There were suggestions that Barca could bring the hammer down on Pique for what is a flagrant violation of standard football injury protocols, but he’s done enough for the club to have some credit in the bank.
As quoted by The Sun, president Joan Laporta has confirmed that Pique will face no punishment for his actions:
“We are not going to sanction him. He has demonstrated his Barcelonismo [support] many times. His professionalism is beyond all doubt.”
Still, it’s not a particularly good look for Pique, whose PR is near impeccable as he continues to be groomed in the role of a future Barca president himself.