Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola fined £20,000 and handed FA warning over yellow ribbon

Guardiola admitted to an FA charge of wearing a political message in breach of The FA’s kit and advertising regulations

(AFP/Getty Images)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been fined £20,000 and warned as to his future conduct after admitting to an FA charge of wearing a political message - constituting a breach of the FA’s kit and advertising regulations.

Guardiola was charged by the FA in February for repeatedly wearing a yellow ribbon in support of Catalan independence and was given until 5 March to respond.

After accepting his charge, Guardiola received a fine which equates to around 10% of his weekly earnings and received a warning over future conduct - a point that may become more significant because the 47 year-old has indicated he will likely continue to wear the ribbon in support of those arrested over a failed independence bid earlier this year.

"I hope that the politicians in prison can leave as soon as possible for their families," he said.

"If it can happen to them then it can happen to us. For giving an opinion. People shouldn't be confused and think it couldn't happen to them, because it can.

"We cannot ignore that these eleven politicians or activists, who haven't hurt anyone, are in prison for asking to vote.

"Many things have happened but it's all because we wanted to vote, because we wanted a legal referendum. The solution is that the state and Catalonia should agree and we can have an agreed referendum. It's as simple as that."

Last week a row erupted when FA chief executive Martin Glenn compared the ribbon to a swastika or Ukip badge, for which Glenn later apologised.

“My first impression when I heard [what Glenn said] was that he didn’t understand exactly what the yellow ribbon means,” Guardiola said.