MADRID, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Barcelona defender Gerard Pique was hit by a four-match ban on Wednesday for complaining towards a linesman with insulting words in a Spanish Super Cup match, although the Spanish international had denied the misbehavior.

Pique received a straight red card during Barca's 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Monday, which led to a 5-1 aggregated defeat for the reigning La Liga champions.

A Competition Committee judge on Wednesday sanctioned the ban after studying the case

"I want to apologize because the attitude with which I protested to the linesman wasn't correct. However, at no moment did I use any type of insult towards him." Pique wrote on his Twitter after the match.

According to the referee's report, Pique seriously insulted the linesman. And Barcelona appealed against the red card after the match.