Pep Guardiola gives impassioned speech defending yellow ribbon ‘for humanity’ after Manchester City final win

In his post-match press conference following City's EFL Cup triumph, Guardiola was also asked how he reconciles his position with working for a club owned by the Abu Dhabi regime

Pep Guardiola has been wearing a yellow ribbon on the touchline (AFP/Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola says that he will always wear the yellow ribbon in support of jailed pro-independence Catalan politicians, regardless of what punishment he gets from football’s authorities.

The Manchester City manager ignored the FA threat of a ban at the EFL Cup final after getting a charge on Friday for promoting a political message. He has until 5 March to answer, and could receive a fine or a touchline ban, but says that won’t stop him, insisting he is a “human being before a manager”.

Around half of Guardiola’s press conference to discuss winning the League Cup – the first trophy of his City career – was consumed by the issue of the ribbon, as the Catalan gave an impassioned speech on the issue. He was also asked about how he can reconcile that with working for a club owned by the Abu Dhabi regime, given the accusations of human rights abuses, but said ”every country decides the way they want to live”.

“They know I will wear it always,” the City manager said. “I can wear it somewhere else [on my person]. Uefa have another opinion, they say you can wear it as long as it’s with respect, here it’s different apparently.

“I accept the fine if I broke the rules. I am a human being and this is for humanity and there are four guys in prison and other guys, who will be in jail, they don’t have weapons, just balls in the ballot, that’s why. I said it’s always with me and it always will be until the last – it’s not about politics, it’s about democracy – the people who didn’t do anything apart from having another opinion. Hopefully in the future, the state can help these guys out of jail. In the future we can be there if they don’t respect what we have done.

“Before a manager, I’m a human a person, everyone in England knows what it means, you did the Brexit, you allowed Scotland to make a referendum and the people voted. That’s what these guys asked and they are in jail – 145 days – everyone is innocent until the judge proves you are guilty, they are there. Try to be out with their families and, after, the judge can decide. Everyone will listen to their opinions, but they are accused of a very strong thing. They don’t have weapons, just votes, they didn’t break anything. That’s why I appreciate the fans for City fans. I will accept whatever they decide about my behaviour, it’s not a lack of respect, it’s being part of humanity.”