“Focus on your football instead” – Jewish council warns Pep Guardiola
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“Focus on your football instead” – Jewish council warns Pep Guardiola
The Jewish Representative Council Blasts Pep Guardiola After Speaking Out On Gaza Conflict
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has once again sparked controversy after using a pre-match press conference to speak on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, drawing criticism from the Jewish community.
On Tuesday, ahead of the City’s English League Cup clash with Tottenham Hotspur, Guardiola addressed the suffering caused by conflicts around the world, including Israel’s military operations in Gaza, saying he feels compelled to speak out.
“Never, ever in the history of humanity have we had the information in front of our eyes watching more clearly than now,” Guardiola told reporters in Manchester.
“The genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happened in Russia, what happened all around the world, in Sudan, everywhere. It’s our problems as human beings. It’s our problem.”
The 55-year-old Spanish coach, visibly emotional, condemned the killing of innocent civilians. He said, “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.”
Guardiola, who has previously condemned the global silence over the plight of Palestinian children, also highlighted broader issues of human suffering. “When you have an idea and you need to defend it, and you have to kill thousands of people? I’m sorry, I will stand up. Always, I will be there,” he said.
His remarks, however, were met with strong criticism from the Jewish Representative Council (JRC), which urged the manager to focus on football and warned that his comments could provoke further tension.
“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 JRC said in a statement issued earlier February 4.
“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. This is the second time in a week that he has decided to offer his controversial views on the Middle East conflict.
“It’s especially galling given his total failure to use his significant platform to display any solidarity with the Jewish community subjected to a deadly terrorist attack a few miles from the Etihad Stadium, or the Barcelona community reeling from antisemitic violence close to where he once again engaged in remarks we believe to be provocative.
“We implore Mr Guardiola to be more careful with his future language given the significant risk faced by our community.”
