'a**hole'
Gerard Pique booed by Spain fans as he trains after comments about quitting national team over Catalan referendum
SPAIN fans called Barcelona star Gerard Pique an "a***hole" as he arrived for training after he offered to quit the national team over the police violence surrounding the Catalan referendum.
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And as the former Manchester United star turned up at the Las Rozas training ground, some fans jeered him with the session cut short to just 23 minutes.
Some of the crowd could be heard chanting: “Pique, a***hole, Spain is your country…. Pique, a***hole, leave the national team."
Others could be heard screaming “son of a b****” as tempers flared in the ground.
But as some fans held up signs saying "Pique out", one supporter held up a "Pique T'estimo" placard, meaning "I love you" in Catalan.
Objects were lobbed in the direction of the players as they left the field of play while some Civil Guard officers attempted to remove signs.
The 30-year-old World Cup winner was distraught after the brutal confrontations led to the 3-0 Barcelona win over Las Palmas being played behind closed doors.
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Speaking to reporters at the Nou Camp, visibly upset, Pique said he still wanted to represent Spain but admitted his dedication to the Catalan cause could force him out.
He said: “Well backing the referendum, you can then vote yes or no [for independence]. Or you can spoil your paper but you vote.
“During many years people could not vote here and this is a right that should be defended by all means within the law possible.
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“I am Catalan and I feel Catalan and today more than ever I feel proud of the Catalan people.
“I think I can keep playing for the Spain team because I think that there are many many people throughout the country that are completely against the acts we have seen today and who believe in the democracy.
“If the Spain manager or the Spanish FA think I’m a problem then I have no problem in stepping aside and leaving the team.”
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