Out of Play
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola fined £20,000 and warned over future conduct by FA for wearing yellow ribbon
PEP GUARDIOLA has been fined £20,000 by the FA and has been warned over his future after wearing a yellow ribbon.
The Manchester City boss accepted the charge by England football’s governing body after wearing a political message in the form of the ribbon.
Guardiola has been judged to breach the FA’s kit and advertising regulations after showing his support of imprisoned politicians in Catalonia after a failed independence bid.
A statement from the FA read: “Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been fined £20,000 and warned as to his future conduct after admitting an FA charge for wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon, in breach of The FA’s kit and advertising regulations.”
The former Barcelona boss was charged after the 1-0 FA Cup defeat against Wigan on February 19 for donning the ribbon whilst on the touchline.
Guardiola had previously been issued two formal warnings to stop pledging his support, as well as the FA speaking to him about the situation back in December.
City have been supportive of their manager’s stance, who refuses to apologise for his actions, and will likely continue to show his support.
Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart – two key members of the Catalan independence movement – were held without bail after an October independence vote was deemed illegal by the Spanish government.
Writing in today’s Guardian, Cuixart thanked Guardiola for his continued support of the cause.
The 42-year-old said: “As of today, I have now been in prison for 144 days without a trial for defending the rights and freedoms of the people of Catalonia.
“Despite this, I still believe in justice, the protection of human rights, peace and freedom as the fundamental values that define 21st-century democracy.
“Therefore, I truly appreciate Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola’s act of solidarity by wearing a yellow ribbon in support of the four Catalan prisoners, despite being charged by the FA for refusing to take it off.”
While speaking of the situation, Guardiola has said: “It’s not about politicians, it’s about democracy. Before I am a manager, I am a human being.”
While he has also added: “I hope that the politicians in prison can leave as soon as possible for their families, if it can happen to them then it can happen to us. Forgiving an opinion.
“The solution is that the state and Catalonia should agree and we can have an agreed referendum. It’s as simple as that.”