Former Barcelona and Spain star Gerard Pique has been ordered to pay a €200,000 ($236,000; £173,455) fine for insider trading, according to an official notice published in Spain’s Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE). The penalty, issued alongside a separate fine for businessman Jose Elias, stems from “very serious offences” related to stock market regulations.
Investigators found that Pique purchased shares in Aspy Global Services on January 22, 2021, while in possession of confidential information provided by Elias. He sold the stocks just six days later, profiting significantly from the transaction. Elias, the founder and chairman of energy group Audax, was fined €100,000 ($117,478; £86,734) for sharing “privileged information” with Pique regarding Atrys Health’s planned acquisition of Aspy Global Services—a tip that enabled the former footballer to exploit the stock market.
Both Pique and Elias retain the right to appeal the fines before Spain’s National High Court. Representatives for Pique and Audax have been contacted for comment.
The insider trading penalty comes just weeks after Pique was hit with a separate disciplinary action. On May 6, The Athletic reported that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had banned Pique for six matches and suspended him from all official football activities for two months, citing “alleged minor violence” directed at referees. The incident occurred after FC Andorra—the club owned by Pique’s holding company Kosmos—lost 1-0 to Albacete in Spain’s second division. The federation also imposed a two-month suspension for “blatant and public acts that undermine the dignity and decorum of sport.”
Over his 22-year career, Pique made 667 club appearances, with 616 for Barcelona, and earned 102 caps for Spain. He is one of the most decorated Spanish players in history, having won nine La Liga titles, four UEFA Champions League trophies, the European Championship, and the World Cup.