Pep Guardiola asked to ‘focus on football’ after mixed comments

“We have repeatedly asked prominent individuals to be mindful of the words they use given how the Jewish people have endured attacks around the world,” a statement posted on X said.

“Pep Guardiola is a football manager. While his humanitarian ideas may be well-intentioned, he must focus on football.

“Manchester City have been let down by repeatedly deviating from commentary on international affairs.”

The statement also referred to the attack last October on the Heaton Park synagogue, in which two people were killed.

“It is particularly disturbing given his complete failure to use his important platform to show any solidarity with the Jewish community that was subjected to a terrorist attack just a few miles from the Etihad Stadium or the Barcelona community suffering from anti-Semitic violence near where he once engaged in statements that we believe are provocative.

“We call on Mr Guardiola to be more careful in his future language given the significant risks our society faces.”

In a football press conference on Tuesday, Guardiola spoke of the killing and injury of “thousands of innocent people” around the world, and pointed to Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan and recent shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the United States.

“If it was the opposite side it would hurt me. Do you want to harm another country? It hurts me.” [To] Thousands of completely innocent people were killed, and it pains me. It’s not more complicated than that. “No more,” he said.

“When you have an idea and you need to defend it [it] And you have to kill thousands and thousands of people – I’m sorry, I will stand. I will always be there. always.”