Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has sparked controversy after weighing in on Britain’s small boat crisis in an extraordinary political intervention.
The Spaniard has claimed the “scale and visibility” of “global suffering” leaves him with little choice but to speak out on humanitarian issues.
Ahead of Manchester City’s Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Newcastle United, Guardiola said: “Never, ever in the history of humanity have we had the info 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.
“What happened in front of us? Do you want to see it? It’s our problems as human beings.
“There is somebody who sees the images from all around the world who is not affected?
“Today we can see it. Before we could not see it. Today we see. It hurts me.
“If it was the opposite side, it would hurt me. Wanting harm for another country? It hurts me. (To) completely kill thousands of innocent people, it hurts me. It’s no more complicated than that. No more.
“When you have an idea and you need to defend (it) and you have to kill thousands, thousands of people – I’m sorry, I will stand up. Always I will be there, always.”
The Spaniard argued that the scale and visibility of global suffering leaves him with little choice but to speak out
|
GETTY
The legendary Spanish coach then claimed his intervention was not political – saying it was about defending human life wherever civilians are suffering.
“The people who have to do that, run away from their countries, go in the sea and then go on a boat to get rescued.
“Don’t ask if he is right or wrong, rescue him. It is about a human being.
“After we can agree (or) criticise but (if) people (are) dying, you have to help. Protecting the human being and human life is the only thing we have, not just in these parts of the world but every part of the world.”
READ MORE ON PEP GUARDIOLA:
The 55-year-old said ‘don’t ask’ if a migrant is ‘right or wrong’ to cross the Channel on a small boat
| PA
The 55-year-old has been a vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, previously accusing Benjamin Netanyahu’s Government of “destroying an entire people” and frequently referring to the conflict as a genocide.
He previously told Spanish outlet RAC1: “The world has left Palestine alone. We’ve done absolutely nothing… I can’t imagine a person in this world who could defend the massacres in Gaza.”
Last week, Guardiola missed media duties ahead of Manchester City’s game against Tottenham to give a speech in support of Palestinians at a charity event in Barcelona.
The Spaniard also touched on the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, which saw two people shot dead by federal agents.
Mr Guardiola missed media duties last week to give a speech in support of Palestinians in Barcelona
|
GETTY
He told reporters: “When I see the images, I am sorry it hurts. That is why in every position I can help speak up to be a better society, I will try and will be there. All the time. It is for my kids, my families, for you.
“From my point of view, the justice? You have to talk. Otherwise it will just move on. Look what happened in the United States of America, Renee Good and Alex Pretti have been killed. Tell me how you can defend that?
“There is not a perfect society, nowhere is perfect, I am not perfect, we have to work to be better.”
Football Supporters Europe said it was “extremely concerned” about this summer’s World Cup being held in the US, accusing the Trump administration of the “militarisation of police forces” across the country.
