Football
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Manchester City's Pep Guardiola to explain yellow ribbon to FA

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is preparing to write to the Football Association to explaining his decision to continue wearing a yellow ribbon.

Guardiola is facing an FA charge of "wearing a political message" for sporting the symbol in support of imprisoned Catalan politicians in recent months.

English football's governing body considers the matter a potential breach of its kit and advertising regulations and has given the 47-year-old until next Monday to respond.

Guardiola said after Sunday's Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal at Wembley that he would continue wearing the ribbon because he "is a human being before a manager" and will make his reasons clear.

The Catalonia-born coach said: "Of course I am going to write a letter and I am going to explain our position. I am available for the FA, absolutely, so it is no problem."

Guardiola, one of Catalonia's highest-profile sportsmen having captained and managed Barcelona, started wearing the ribbon after two political leaders were imprisoned following the region's independence referendum in October, which was declared illegal by Spain.

The FA prohibits the displaying of political messages by club officials on the touchline and twice warned Guardiola before issuing the formal charge last week.

The regulations concern only the technical area and do not cover pre or postmatch activities. The charge came after Guardiola was seen wearing the ribbon during City's surprise FA Cup defeat at Wigan last Monday.

Guardiola covered the symbol with a scarf during the Carabao Cup final, having been displaying it during the national anthem and other prematch formalities at Wembley.

A number of fans wore yellow ribbons in support of Guardiola during the game, and speaking at a news conference to preview Thursday's Premier League clash with Arsenal, he said: "The feeling to belong to something, I am really grateful for that initiative.

"They don't have to do it. It is another country, yet they did that. That makes me really happy because that makes people understand the situation, what is going on, people in prison in Spain. So I'm 100 percent grateful to them."

The City boss also stressed that he would stop wearing the ribbon if he felt the controversy was affecting his team's performance.

"The club is more important than my personal opinion. I don't want to damage my team or club," he said.

"It's not about the right or left. It's not about a political issue. It's for the people who say it's not right to have four people in jail. It says something for the humanity."

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