Espanyol in trouble over Barcelona, Gerard Pique, Shakira chants

Espanyol face punishment after the Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) asked for offensive chants aimed at Barcelona, Gerard Pique and his partner Shakira during Saturday's Catalan derby to be looked into.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the LFP details six separate occasions during Barca's 3-0 win where Espanyol fans were deemed to be in breach of the league's anti-violence rules.

The complaint -- which quotes the abuse that was aimed at Barca, Pique and pop star Shakira -- will now be looked at by the Royal Spanish Football Federation's Competition Committee, who will be tasked with deciding what measure to take against Espanyol, with the most likely outcome a fine.

Recent Catalan derbies have been fraught with similar incidents. In 2016, racist chants were allegedly aimed at Neymar, while Luis Suarez was banned for two games following a clash in the Camp Nou tunnel with Espanyol players.

Pique, though, is the Barca player who has been targeted most often by Espanyol supporters. At a Copa del Rey game in January 2016, a section of the club's supporters unravelled several banners at Cornella-El Prat directing unpleasant messages at him and Shakira.

Espanyol were eventually fined €24,002 for the incident, but despite that, Pique does not harbour any ill-feeling towards Barca's city rivals.

"It doesn't affect me, I just have to remain focused on the match and not give [the chants] any importance," Pique said after Saturday's game. "And to be honest, I enjoy coming here, it's where I have the most fun -- here and at [Real Madrid's] Bernabeu.

"The majority of Espanyol supporters are polite. I know a lot of Pericos [Espanyol fans] and I have a lot of respect for them. But there are always rowdy minorities, we know how it works. They don't represent the Espanyol fanbase. Those who shout come here to release their frustrations in life."

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