BARCELONA (Reuters) – Spain could clinch their place in the 2018 World Cup on Friday but the figure of Gerard Pique has cast a shadow on their qualifier with Albania following Sunday’s highly-disputed independence referendum in Catalonia.
Barca defender Pique, who voted in the banned referendum and has been outspoken about his home region’s right to decide on its future, was booed upon arrival at the team’s hotel in Alicante on Thursday by around 100 supporters, who urged him to quit the national team.
Pique broke down in tears after Barcelona’s win over Las Palmas on Sunday, declaring “I am Catalan and feel Catalan” and offered to quit the Spain team if anyone in the side had a problem with his views.
Pique also fiercely criticised the Spanish government and prime minister Mariano Rajoy after Catalan officials said over 840 people had been injured in clashes with police as they stormed polling stations across the region.
The Barcelona defender was mercilessly booed by Spain fans during an open training session on Monday, prompting him to give a lengthy news conference on Wednesday to explain his views.
He insisted he is still proud to represent his country, saying the national team is like a family to him and that he had the support of his team mates and coach Julen Lopetegui, who later gave the defender his backing in a radio interview.
Last week, however, Spain captain Sergio Ramos criticised Pique for tweeting in favour of the referendum ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.
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