Pep Guardiola accepts FA charge over yellow ribbon

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London, March 6: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has accepted a Football Association (FA) charge for wearing a yellow ribbon, which the governing body deems to be a political symbol and in breach of its regulations.

Guardiola began wearing the ribbon last year in support of Catalan politicians Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart, who remain in custody following a crackdown in the aftermath of last October's referendum on Catalan independence – a poll Spain's national governing deemed to be illegal.

"Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted an FA charge for wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon, in breach of The FA's kit and advertising regulations," an FA statement read.

"A paper hearing has been requested, with a date to be set in due course."

Former Barcelona boss Guardiola has been a vocal proponent of independence in his home region and put forward his point of view in a news conference last week – likening the pin to those worn to raise awareness for charities and insisting his cause in this instance was humanitarian, not political.

"It's like, for example, the pink ribbon. It is for breast cancer; it's not about the right or left, democrat or republican," he said. "If I bring a red ribbon it is to support the people who have AIDS, it is not right/left.

"The people with yellow ribbons in Catalonia, some of them might be independence people but most of them, maybe not.

"It is not about the political issue – the rights of the people who want to vote, it's not talking about that.

"I am pretty sure there are people in Catalonia who do not agree about being independent but they do not agree either with people being in preventative jail for more than 140 days."

Source: OPTA