Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola being investigated by Spanish police over Catalonia referendum

The former Barcelona player and manager publicly announced his intention to vote 'yes' in the October referendum, which has been deemed illegal by the Spanish government

Pep Guardiola has voiced his support for the Catalonian independence campaign (Getty)

Pep Guardiola has been named in a police report investigating the Catalan independence after the Manchester City manager publicly pledged his support for the region to break away from the Spanish state.

A report investigating the imprisoned activists Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart over the Catalonian referendum last October has mentioned Guardiola, according to reports in Spain, and the documents will now be passed onto the Supreme Court judge Pablo Llaren.

Sanchez and Cuixart are being investigated for alleged rebellion after the Spanish government deemed the referendum illegal, but Guardiola has voiced his support for both the imprisoned duo and also for Catalonia to gain independence.

The City manager previously declared his intention to vote “yes” in the referendum on 1 October, and he attended a pro-independence rally in Barcelona during the summer alongside Carles Puigdemont – the president of the Catalan government – where he expressed his support for the campaign.

According to a police report seen by Spanish newspaper El Nacional, Guardiola is one of a number of high-profile figures being investigated for trying to sway public opinion on the referendum, with the report citing that a “manifesto was read by Josep Guardiola and intended to mobilise all supporters of independence”.

After the referendum, both Sanchez and Cuixart were jailed, along with pro-independence politicians Oriol Junqueras and Joaquim Form, and Guardiola has since worn a yellow ribbon during matches in support of those imprisoned over the campaign.

President Puigdemont has since fled to Belgium and told that he will be arrested if he returns to Spain.

Guardiola has previously said: “If Uefa or Fifa or the Premier League want to sanction me for wearing a yellow ribbon then go ahead. I am wearing it for two people who are in prison for defending the right to vote.”

The Football Association only forbids offensive messages, something that Uefa also enforces, meaning that Guardiola will not face any action over the support.