Pique defends referees while Bartomeu rejects Neymar sale talk

FC Barcelona defender Gerard Pique may be in the middle of serving a four-game ban following his sending off in the return leg of the Spanish Supercup, but on Tuesday the Spain international said he had no doubts over the honest of the officials in Spain.

Pique was sent off for insulting the assistant referee of Velasco Carballo, a man who has sent him off before and who Pique then accused of having acted with pre-meditation.

However when appearing at a publicity event, he insisted, "whether or not Barcelona win the league this season doesn't depend on the referees. Referees are 100 percent impartial."

He expressed the hope that his suspension would be reduced.

"I am optimistic and I hope it is reduced, because it is hard to not be able to help the team," he said, adding that even if he was not able to play, "there is a team and it is wrong to say we don't have enough depth."

Meanwhile FC Barcelona President, Josep Maria Bartomeu rejected stories in the British Press that Manchester United were preparing a bid worth a total of 240 pounds sterling (320 million Euros) in order to try and lure Brazilian ace Neymar from the Camp Nou Stadium.

"He is young and we want him to stay here and to retire at the club," said Bartomeu, who added that the club would start contract discussions with the Brazilian in the coming months. Endi