Pep: I’ll end my ribbon protest
PEP GUARDIOLA will suspend his yellow ribbon protest if ordered to by Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi hierarchy.
Guardiola has until Monday to answer an FA charge of breaching their kit and advertising regulations by wearing the ribbon in support of four of his fellow Catalans who have been imprisoned by the Spanish government.
The City boss intends to write to the FA – who had already given him two formal warnings – to explain that his reasons for wearing the ribbon are humanitarian rather than political. But he will stop if he is in danger of a touchline ban that could harm City’s trophy hunt.
He said: “I don’t think it will happen but if they [City’s owners] ask me to stop, I am going to accept that. They are the bosses.
“I don’t want to damage my team or the club. The club are more important than my personal opinion. But my personal opinion is not a political opinion.
“When men and women put on a pink ribbon it’s because of the support for the breast cancer initiative, the same as when we wear the prostate cancer badge. The idea is the same – there are a lot of ribbons.
“I’m pretty sure there are people all around the world in Spain and Catalunya who do not want to be independent but they do not agree with putting people in jail.”
Under the FA’s regulations, Guardiola is free to wear the ribbon before and after a game but not at pitch-side.
During the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, the ribbon was covered up by his coat during the match. But at Wigan last Monday, it is understood he removed his jacket and the ribbon was on show, prompting the FA to act.