BARCELONA (AFP) - A Spanish judge hit Barcelona star Gerard Pique with a heavy fine on Wednesday after the 2010 World Cup winner lost his temper and insulted two traffic policemen.

The confrontation happened in October 2014 while Pique was waiting in the passenger seat of his brother's illegally parked car.

The judge heard that the 28-year-old husband of Colombian singing star Shakira tried to persuade the police he had stopped for only five minutes but his excuses were ignored.

When he was given the parking ticket, he threw it at them while insulting them in a an offensive manner.

A fine of 900 euros was recommended but the judge said that due to Pique's high salary at Barcelona, the fine was being raised to 10,500 euros (S$16,000).

Pique was not in court on Wednesday but made a public apology via his Twitter account at the time, claiming the incident had been blown out of proportion, but saying he was very sorry and would not do it again.

He has won the Champions League with Manchester United and Barcelona, while with Spain, he won the World Cup in 2010 and Euro 2012.