Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered a powerful and emotional condemnation of recent killings in the United States and ongoing global conflicts, describing the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis as indefensible. The football boss, speaking out after attending a rally in his native Barcelona last week in support of Palestinian children in Gaza, revealed his deep anguish at events unfolding around the world.
Guardiola's Outrage at Minneapolis Killings
Guardiola expressed particular outrage at the shootings of Renee Good, a mother of three, and Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, both killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota last month. He drew a stark comparison, asking how one could defend such actions if they occurred in the UK's National Health Service.
"Imagine [a nurse in] the NHS, five or six people around him, go on the grass and [fire] 10 shots. Tell me how you can defend that?" Guardiola questioned. "Make something wrong, [you should] go to the jail."
Political Justifications and Guardiola's Response
While US President Donald Trump and members of his administration have sought to justify Pretti's death - with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem calling the nurse a "domestic terrorist," Trump describing him as "perhaps" an "insurrectionist," and senior official Stephen Miller branding him a "would-be assassin" - Guardiola maintained it was impossible to defend the killing.
The Manchester City manager emphasized the paradox of modern society, noting: "What is happening right now, with the technologies and advances that we have, the humanity is better than ever in terms of possibilities. We can reach the moon, we can do everything. But still right now, we kill each other. For what? For what?"
Global Conflicts and Humanitarian Concerns
Guardiola spoke passionately about multiple international crises, describing what he sees as genocide in Gaza alongside conflicts in Ukraine, Russia, and Sudan. He emphasized that modern technology has made these tragedies more visible than ever before in human history.
"Never, ever in the history of humanity, never ever have we had the info in front of our eyes watching more clearly than now," he stated. "Genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happened in Russia, what happened all around the world; in Sudan, everywhere."
The Moral Imperative to Speak Out
The football manager explained his determination to continue speaking out on humanitarian issues, stating he feels compelled to use his platform to advocate for a better society. He described the emotional impact of seeing daily images of suffering families and destroyed lives.
"When I see the images, I am sorry, it hurts. It hurts me, that is why in every position I can help speak up to be a better society, I will try and will be there," Guardiola affirmed.
Humanitarian Aid Over Political Causes
Guardiola argued that saving human lives should take precedence over political ideologies or causes. He specifically mentioned refugees risking their lives at sea, emphasizing that the primary concern should be rescue rather than judgment.
"The people who have to run away from their countries, 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," he urged. "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."
Guardiola concluded by reiterating his commitment to standing up against violence and injustice, expressing bewilderment that anyone could remain unmoved by the suffering visible in daily news coverage from conflict zones around the globe.
