Catalunya 'IndyRef': Barça's Gerard Piqué votes

The partner of Colombian pop-rocker Shakira – and father of her two sons, Milan and Sasha – has made no secret of his support of the people of Catalunya being allowed to vote, although it is not clear whether he is pro-independence or simply in favour of the 'right to a voice'.

“Being in favour of independence and being in favour of the referendum are two very different things,” Piqué, 30, said recently in an interview.

He was due to play in this evening's Barça vs Las Palmas match, which has gone ahead behind securely-locked doors almost at the eleventh hour after talks were held about possibly cancelling it due to the extreme tension on the streets of Barcelona as a result of the 'illegal' referendum.

Piqué's photograph shows him smiling and shaking hands with one of the polling station volunteers and surrounded by thrilled fans who were keen to get in on the picture.

The caption reads: “Ja he votat. Junts som imparables defensant la democràcia.” ('I've voted now. Together, we're unstoppable in our defence of democracy').

Photograph: Gerard Piqué on Twitter (@3gerardpique)