Barcelona defender Gerard Pique aims dig at arch rivals Real Madrid

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has weighed in to a debate about refereeing by saying many officials in Spain were likely to favour his club’s great rivals Real Madrid.

Pique, in an interview on YouTube show Post United on Thursday, said that if the vast majority of LaLiga referees supported Real Madrid, they would naturally be partial to that team when refereeing their games.

The central defender, recovering from a long-term knee injury, was reacting to Spanish media reporting comments from former referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez that many officials in Spain were Real Madrid fans.

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has weighed in to a debate about refereeing in Spain

‘The other day a former referee said that 85 per cent of the referees are from Madrid,’ Pique said in the interview.

‘How are they not going to whistle in favour of Madrid? Even unconsciously, how are they not going to give more for one side than the other??

‘I respect the professionalism of the referees and I know they try to do their best job, but when a moment of doubt comes…’

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Barcelona have had 12 penalties this season while Real have been awarded three while the LaLiga giants have been shown the same number of yellow cards (36) and Real have seen one player sent off.

Pique also discussed Sergio Ramos’ contract situation at the Bernabeu, he said:  ‘I talk to him, but not about his renewal,’ Pique said of Ramos. ‘We get along very well. With Madrid, the relationship is very good.

‘I have swapped shirts with them and I have Madrid shirts at home. I have Cristiano [Ronaldo], [Karim] Benzema, Ramos… a few. But putting one on is too far for me.’