“People die”
Guardiola talks about war – and is criticized
02/05/2026 – 05:15 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Pep Guardiola speaks about the suffering of children in the Gaza Strip. For this he is criticized by a Jewish council.
The manager of the English first division club Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, has spoken out about global wars and was promptly criticized for it. At a conference in Barcelona, the successful coach particularly addressed the situation in Gaza and Sudan.
Guardiola mentioned Sudan when speaking about conflicts in which innocent people die. There are said to have been multiple war crimes. Explosive: The United Arab Emirates is considered a supporter of the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces, one of the warring parties. The vice president of the UAE is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahraum, who is also the owner of Manchester City.
“Never before in the history of humanity have we had information as clear as we do today,” Guardiola said, according to a report by Britain’s The Guardian. The Spaniard continued: “The genocide in Gaza, the events in Ukraine, the events around the world – in Sudan, everywhere. What happened before our eyes? Do you want to see it? That is our problem as people.” During the lecture, the trainer wore a keffiyeh, a cloth that is worn in the Palestinian territories and has also become a symbol of solidarity.
Guardiola also addressed the situation of children in the Palestinian territories at a charity event in Barcelona last Thursday. Asked why he was committed to it, he said, according to the Guardian: “It’s about a better place for humanity,” he said, “the people who flee their countries, go to sea and are then rescued on a boat: Don’t ask if he’s right or wrong, save him. It’s about a person. After that we can agree, criticize. But people are dying, you have to help them.”
The Greater Manchester and Region Jewish Representative Council warned the coach’s words could increase tensions and fuel anti-Semitic acts. In a public statement, the Jewish Council emphasized that prominent personalities should be aware of their responsibilities. People of Jewish faith have been exposed to attacks worldwide.
The Council pointed out that it had repeatedly called for linguistic restraint in international conflicts. Even if Guardiola’s motivation is probably humanitarian, he should concentrate on football. The statement was published on the X platform on Wednesday.
The council also criticized Guardiola for failing to show solidarity with Manchester’s Jewish community following the attack near Heaton Park Synagogue in October. According to the statement, community members were disappointed that Guardiola had not used his platform to address anti-Semitic violence in his immediate surroundings.
