Pique handed one-match ban - Defender's suspension upheld by Spanish football federation

Gerard Pique: Sent off for Barcelona against Sporting Gijon

Barcelona have had their appeal against Gerard Pique's red card in last weekend's 3-1 Primera Liga win over Sporting Gijon rejected.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) have now handed the defender a one-match ban after he was sent off in the 46th minute by referee Carlos Velasco Caballero after he was ruled to have brought down Miguel de las Cuevas on the edge of the Barca area.

The RFEF have also given Barcelona five days to present their case in the face of a formal complaint from the head of the referee's technical committee, over comments made by Pique after Saturday's victory at the Camp Nou.

After the match, Pique was quoted as saying in local media that the referee's decision looked to have been pre-meditated.

Pique will miss Barca's trip to play struggling Racing Santander in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

The Catalan giants are currently 10 points adrift of leaders Real Madrid in their bid for a fourth consecutive Primera Division title.