FA Fines Manchester City Manager, Pep Guardiola For £20,000

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has been fined £20,000 and warned about his future conduct, after admitting an FA charge for displaying a political message.

Guardiola has continued to wear a yellow ribbon in support of imprisoned politicians in his native Catalonia, but the move breached the FA’s kit and advertising regulations.

The Spaniard has told the FA he will comply with the regulations going forward, which do not permit him to wear the ribbon pitchside during matches.

FA chief, Martin Glenn, has already apologized for his comments about the ribbon.

“Mr. Glenn has apologised, so okay. But the first impression when I heard that is that it was because he didn’t understand what the yellow ribbon means. It’s simple like that.

“He makes a comment that is so far away [from what the yellow ribbon means]. It’s not about independence or not independence.

“It’s about four people who are in jail when they didn’t do anything to be in jail. It’s simple. I think now he will understand because he didn’t understand the reality of the situation.

“Many times I have spoken myself and after I regret what I said, but I am sure now that is not going to happen [with Glenn].

“There are FA rules, they have them and they apply them. I accept the decision because I have to. That doesn’t mean they are right or wrong. It doesn’t mean I agree or don’t agree.

“I said from the beginning if the FA said I shouldn’t wear the ribbon, I accept it. The yellow ribbon is always going to be there. There are still people in prison in an unfair way,” Guardiola said.