The tension was palpable during Spain’s open training session in Madrid on Monday, the very day after the Catalan independence referendum in Barcelona was mired by scenes of police brutality and politically-fuelled violence.
Of course, after he was seen voting in the referendum, it was Barca defender Gerard Pique who bore the brunt of the ire from the dissenting spectators in attendance, emerging from the tunnel at the beginning of the session to a chorus of boos and hisses…
Sale Piqué pic.twitter.com/F61hBh1mYk
— Eduardo J. Castelao (@EJCASTELAO) October 2, 2017
Pique is a staunch, vocal advocate of Catalan culture, and as such has been routinely pilloried by Real Madrid and Spain fans in the past for his political stance.
David Cartlidge, Spanish football scribe for FourFourTwo magazine, reported that many of the jeering ‘fans’ made the special trip to the training facility simply to abuse Pique in person…
Guardia Civil intervened and took homemade banners off grown men who came to the training camp solely to abuse Piqué.
— David Cartlidge (@davidjaca) October 2, 2017
According to ESPN FC, several inflammatory banners were removed from the 1,000-strong crowd, many of which were directed at Pique.
Police and security staffers removed some of the signs, one of which read: “Pique do not go, I want you to be kicked out. You make me sick.”
Others simply said: “Pique out.”
And so, before the whole thing boiled over, the session was called to a premature halt after less than 25 minutes.
Pique then left the pitch flanked by security staff as objects were pelted in his general direction…
23 mins of training and Spain are done. Piqué goes off with security guard, objects thrown. What a mess…https://t.co/dWYrzTTOwd
— David Cartlidge (@davidjaca) October 2, 2017
Tras 23 minutos España deja de entrenar pic.twitter.com/LjD3Jvjx81
— Eduardo J. Castelao (@EJCASTELAO) October 2, 2017
After Barca decided to play Las Palmas behind closed doors on Sunday as a protest against the violence, an emotional Pique – who described the match as “the worst moment of his career” – offered to quit the national team if the Spanish FA deem his continued presence in the squad to be toxic.
If anyone believes I am a problem for the federation, I will step aside from the national team before the World Cup.
Going with the national team is not a competition in patriotism, it’s about trying to play the best you possibly can.
What a sorry mess, and what a shame for all those kids who just wanted to see their favourite footballers up close.
As for Pique, his position with La Roja looks increasingly unsustainable, through no real fault of his own. Surely a retirement is imminent?
Either way, risible stuff.