Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Friday defended remarks he made this week about conflicts and violence around the world, saying he condemns all suffering and urging people to speak out on issues beyond soccer.
Guardiola’s comments drew sharp criticism — particularly from members of Manchester’s Jewish community, who urged him to “focus on football” and be more cautious in his language.
Speaking at a news conference ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Liverpool at Anfield, Guardiola reiterated his stance that he opposes all conflict.
“Never, ever in the history of humanity have we had the information in front of our eyes watching more clearly than now — genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happened in Russia, what happened all around the world, in Sudan, everywhere,” Guardiola said. “It's our problems as human beings. But there is somebody who sees the images from all around the world—the wars—who is not affected? It's not a question about right or wrong. Today we can see it, before we could not see it. It hurts me.”
His reference to the Gaza war sparked angry responses from some in Manchester’s Jewish community, who said his focus should remain on soccer and that he should choose his words more carefully.
“I didn’t say anything special,” Guardiola replied. “Why should I not express what I feel, just because I am a manager? I don't agree but I respect absolutely all opinions. What I said basically is how many conflicts are there right now all around the world? How many? A lot - I condemn all of them.
“If innocent people are [being] killed, I condemn them all and not putting a selection on one being [more] important than the other - not this country is [more important] than the other one.”
Last week, Guardiola sparked controversy when he appeared at a pro-Palestine event in Barcelona wearing a keffiyeh and urged the audience “not to look away” from the fighting in Gaza. On Friday, he rejected suggestions that he should refrain from speaking about political issues.
“OK you focus on being a journalist and you cannot talk about the economy, because you are not an economic journalist,” Guardiola said, responding to a reporter. “[Being] involved in football, don't talk about that or that or that. That's why the world remains silent, that is what the world wants, right? Be silent, don't say anything. I think it is completely the opposite but anyway, it is what it is.”