Pep Guardiola told ‘focus on football’ by Manchester Jewish group after Palestine speech | Football | Sport
Pep Guardiola has been told to ‘focus on football’ by a prominent Jewish group following an impassioned speech on the current state of the world. Guardiola appeared at a charity event in Barcelona last week, where he urged world leaders to do more to end the conflict in Palestine.
Guardiola, who missed Manchester City’s pre-match press conference ahead of last weekend’s clash with Tottenham as a result of his appearance, was quizzed on the visit before this week’s Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle. The Catalan coach doubled down on his stance, before going on to reference other conflicts taking place around the world.
However, in the wake of his most recent speech, the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region blasted the City boss for his stance. Posting on X, a statement read: “We have repeatedly asked for prominent individuals to be mindful about the words they use given how Jewish people have had to endure attacks across the globe.
“Pep Guardiola is a football manager. Whilst his humanitarian reflections may be well-intentioned, he should focus on football. Manchester City is being let down by him repeatedly straying into commentary on international affairs. This is the second time in a week that he has decided to offer his controversial views on the Middle East conflict.”
It continued: “It is especially galling given his total failure to use his significant platform to display any solidarity with the Jewish community subjected to a deadly terrorist attack a few miles from the Etihad Stadium or the Barcelona community reeling from antisemitic violence close to where he once again engaged in remarks we believe to be provocative. We implore Mr Guardiola to be more careful with his future language given the significant risk faced by our community.”
Guardiola, who didn’t reference the Jewish faith or Israel during his speech, had said before the Newcastle match: “Not [just] for the situation of the genocide in Palestine. Whatever cause I can be [involved in] for a better place for humanity. Many years I was ‘Open Arms’ wearing [on my top], right?
“People running away from their own countries because of the wars, go to the sea, and go aboard to be rescued. Don’t ask if it’s right or wrong, rescue him! It’s about human beings. After we can agree or disagree, criticise one thing or another. Everyone is right, when you have an idea you have to express it. But when people are dying you have to help them. As a human being, being alive and protecting life is the only thing that we have. Not just in this part of the world, in every part of the world.
“With all the technology and all the advances that we have, humanity is better than ever in terms of possibilities. We can reach the moon, we can do everything. But still right now we kill eachother for what? For what? And I see the images, I’m sorry it hurts to me. That’s why in every position I can help, speaking up to be a better society – maybe I won’t change anything but if I can try, I will be there, all the time. It’s for my kids, for my family, for all of you, for your families as well, for the kids and families of my players, for all the staff. Everyone do whatever they can in their jobs or their life for the best. Injustice for my point of view you have to talk. Otherwise injustice goes on and on.
“Look what happened in the United States of America with Renee Good and Alex Pretti, they have been killed [by ICE]. A nurse, [like] from the NHS, imagine five or six people around them, on the grass, ten shots. Tell me how you can defend that. If you do something wrong you go to trial, or to sue, or to jail. That’s what happens in the modern [world] There’s not a perfect society, I’m not perfect, nobody’s perfect, societies are not perfect. But you have to work to be in a better place. A woman was surrounded and killed. Who can defend that? I don’t know. I will always [stand up] in front of that.”
