Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (L) watches the action during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. AFP
Speaking at a press conference, the Manchester City manager said his comments were humanitarian rather than political. “Why can’t I express how I feel? Just because I’m a coach? I don’t agree, but I respect all opinions,” Guardiola said.
He stressed that he condemned all wars and violence against civilians without singling out any country. “How many conflicts are there in the world? Many. I condemn them all. Innocent people are being killed, and I condemn all of that,” he said. “I didn’t say that one country was more important than another. If you don’t understand my message, that’s fine.”
The remarks followed his comments earlier this week in which he spoke of his anger at the “thousands of innocent people” killed by war, referring to “the genocide in Palestine”, as well as conflicts in Ukraine, Russia, and Sudan.
Last week, he also travelled privately to Barcelona to deliver a speech in support of Palestinian children.
His comments, unusual in the world of elite football, have drawn both praise.
However, the Representative Council of Jews of Greater Manchester said on Wednesday that Guardiola should focus on football, claiming that such remarks could contribute to “antisemitic” acts.
It also criticized Guardiola for not publicly expressing support to the Jewish community following the October 2025 attack on the Heaton Park synagogue.
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