Pep Guardiola Delivers Impassioned Pro-Palestine Speech at Barcelona Charity Concert
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola made a powerful political statement on Thursday night, delivering a three-minute speech at a pro-Palestine charity concert in his native Barcelona. The event, held at the Palau Sant Jordi arena, saw Guardiola address a crowd of approximately 12,000 people while wearing a black and white keffiyeh – a traditional scarf that has become a symbol of Palestinian identity.
Guardiola Condemns World Leaders as 'Cowards' Over Gaza Conflict
In his emotional address, Guardiola directly criticised those in power whom he described as 'cowards' for their handling of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. "Perhaps because those in power are cowards," Guardiola stated during his speech. "Because they basically send innocent young people to kill innocent people. That is what cowards do."
The City manager, who had just returned to Spain after guiding his team to a 2-0 Champions League victory against Galatasaray, spoke passionately about the plight of Palestinian children affected by the war. He described haunting images of children searching for their mothers among rubble and questioned why the international community had seemingly abandoned them.
A Call for Action and Solidarity
Guardiola's speech went beyond mere observation, issuing a direct call to action for the audience and the wider world. "We must take a step forward," he urged. "Simply being present alone means so much - so very, very much. What bombs cause - and what they want to cause - is silence, and for us to look the other way."
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager framed his support as part of a broader humanitarian stance, stating: "We stand before the world to show that, naturally, we are on the side of the weaker - who in this case is Palestine. But not Palestine alone; all causes. This is a statement for Palestine, and it is a statement for humanity."
Political Gestures and Football Context
This is not the first time Guardiola has used his platform to make political statements. In 2018, the Football Association fined him £20,000 for wearing a yellow ribbon in support of Catalan independence leaders. His latest intervention came on the same day that Israeli military sources reportedly acknowledged, for the first time, that over 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict.
The Act x Palestine charity event also featured a surprise appearance from Catalan singer Rosalia, though Guardiola's speech served as the emotional centrepiece of the evening, receiving a standing ovation from the capacity crowd.
Return to Football Duties
Guardiola has now returned to Manchester to prepare his team for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Manchester City currently sit four points behind league leaders Arsenal, though they secured direct qualification to the Champions League last 16 with their midweek victory.
Potential opponents in the next round include Benfica, Bodo/Glimt, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid as City continue their pursuit of what could be a historic quadruple of trophies this season. Despite the intense football schedule, Guardiola's Barcelona appearance demonstrates his continued willingness to engage with humanitarian issues beyond the pitch.
