File: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been criticised by Jewish community leaders for repeatedly commenting on international affairs, with the group saying the club is being “let down” by his public remarks.
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region said it had “implored” Guardiola to be “more careful with his language” at a time when anti-Semitism is rising globally.
As reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, the organisation issued a statement after Guardiola said he wanted to use his platform to “speak up” about global conflicts and expressed the “hurt” he feels for victims of violence around the world. The City manager also delivered a speech in support of Palestinian children at a charity event in his home city of Barcelona last week.
In its statement, the council said Guardiola should focus on football rather than international political issues.
“We have repeatedly asked for prominent individuals to be mindful about the words they use, given how Jewish people have had to endure attacks across the globe,” the statement, posted on X, said.
“Pep Guardiola is a football manager. Whilst his humanitarian reflections may be well-intentioned, he should focus on football.
“Manchester City is being let down by him repeatedly straying into commentary on international affairs.”
The statement also referenced last October’s attack on the Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester, in which two people were killed.
“It is especially galling given his total failure to use his significant platform to display any solidarity with the Jewish community subjected to a terrorist attack a few miles from the Etihad Stadium,” the group said.
It also referred to anti-Semitic violence in Barcelona, saying Guardiola had previously made remarks in the city that it believed to be provocative.
“We implore Mr Guardiola to be more careful in his future language, given the significant risk faced by our community,” the statement added.