Gerard Pique: Barcelona defender says sorry after red card

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has

apologised for being sent off in the second

leg of the Spanish Super Cup but denied

insulting the assistant referee.

The ex-Manchester United player, 28,

confronted the official during Monday's game

against Athletic Bilbao, which they drew 1-1 to

lose 5-1 on aggregate.

"I want to apologise because the attitude with

which I protested was not the correct one," he

tweeted.

"At no point did I direct any insult towards the

assistant referee."

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is

expected to announce Pique's punishment on

Wednesday.

Barcelona begin their bid for a sixth La Liga

title in eight years at Bilbao on Sunday.