MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola has been disciplined by the British Football Association (FA) for wearing a yellow ribbon on his jacket during recent matches in support of Catalunya's 'political prisoners'.
He was seen on TV screens worldwide with the yellow loop on his black jacket during the FA Cup match against Wigan Athletic, where Guardiola's team was beaten 1-0, as well as in the UEFA Champions' League game against Basel, where Man City won 4-0, and the two UK Premier League matches earlier this month where they beat Leicester City 5-1 and drew against Burnley.
Guardiola has also been seen on televisions around the world with his yellow loop during press conferences.
The FA specifically prohibits political messages or propaganda of any kind during matches, meaning Guardiola is likely to be fined for breaking the rules.
He has until Monday, March 5 at 18.00 mainland Spain time (17.00 local time) to appeal against any sanctions imposed upon him.
But the former FC Barcelona trainer appears unconcerned.
“If the UEFA, the FIFA or the Premier League or whoever want to fine me for wearing a yellow ribbon, let them get on with it,” says Guardiola, who has never made any secret of his support for the disputed referendum on independence in Catalunya on October 1.
“In any case, the two Jordis [Cuixart, leader of Òmnium Cultural and Sànchez, of the Catalunya National Assembly, jailed for staging a protest against anti-referendum police action] are still, like all the others, in prison.
“They were only asking to be allowed to vote, don't forget.
“I wear the yellow ribbon especially for two people who were only defending the right to vote.
“To be in prison, you need to have done something seriously wrong, and yet they've been behind bars for over 60 days.”
Even if he faces future disciplinary action, Guardiola does not plan to take his yellow loop off any time soon.
