Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has pledged to keep wearing a yellow ribbon in support of imprisoned Catalan politicians, despite his FA charge.
Guardiola was recently charged by the English FA for wearing the ribbon, with it being viewed as a political message and breach of kit and advertising regulations.
However, The Guardian quotes the former Barcelona Coach as saying after he guided City to League Cup glory – his first trophy with the club – on Sunday: “They [the FA] know I will wear it always. I can wear it somewhere else.
“UEFA have another opinion. They say you can wear it as long as it’s with respect. Here [in England] it’s different apparently.
“I have empathy for the people who have no freedom, those guys in Spain who are in jail. They haven’t been proven guilty.
“Anyone can be in that situation. Before being a football manager I am a human being and this is for humanity.
“There are four guys in prison and other guys, they don’t have weapons, just votes in the ballot. I said this is always with me and it always will be until the last.
“I will accept whatever they [the FA] decide about my behaviour. It’s not a lack of respect, it’s being part of humanity.”
The politicians in question were put behind bars for their involvement in the Catalonia independence referendum last October, the Spanish government having deemed it illegal.
