Guardiola blasts world leaders as 'cowards' over Gaza at Barcelona concert

2 godzin temu

Pep Guardiola appeared at the Act X Palestine Concert Manifest in Barcelona on Thursday, delivering a powerful speech criticizing world leaders for their inaction on conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine. The Manchester City manager wore a keffiyeh at the Palau Sant Jordi arena event, which aimed to show solidarity with Palestine and raise funds for projects in Gaza.

The speech comes as the official death toll in Gaza continues to rise. This week, it was revealed that over 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with close to 500 deaths occurring since the so-called ceasefire.

Guardiola opened his remarks with: «Good evening, As-salamu alaykum [peace be upon you].» He then addressed the ongoing humanitarian crisis directly: «Over these last two years, when I see children in the images on social media and on television, crying and asking where their mother is, while she is buried under the rubble but they do not know it yet, I always wonder, 'what must they be thinking?' I feel that we have abandoned them. I always imagine them saying, 'Where are you? Come and help us,' and so far we have not done that. Perhaps because those in power are cowards, because they simply send innocent young people to kill innocent people. That is what cowards do.»

Call to action

The manager urged people to resist silence and get involved. «What bombs cause, or what they aim to cause, is silence, and for us to look the other way. Their purpose is that we do not take a step forward, and this is what we must resist. We must not look the other way. We must get involved and participate. We stand before the world to show that we are on the side of the oppressed, who in this case is Palestine, but not Palestine alone, all causes. This is a manifesto for Palestine, and it is a manifesto for humanity.»

This is not the first time Guardiola has spoken out on these issues. In June 2025, when receiving an honorary degree from the University of Manchester, he said: «I'm deeply troubled by the images we're seeing in real time in Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, and Gaza.» He added: «We see the horror of thousands of innocent families being killed, yet we're surrounded by leaders who don't consider the inequality and vulnerability of others. What we see in Gaza is so painful. It's not about ideology, it's about love of life and care for your neighbour… It's about choice and refusing to be silent when it matters most. Maybe we think the boys and girls being killed by bombs, or being killed at hospitals because they're not hospitals anymore, is not our business, but be careful, the next ones will be ours.»

Controversial context

Guardiola's stance is particularly notable given his employer's background. Manchester City and the wider City Football Group are owned by the UAE government, which faces accusations of involvement in the Sudan genocide through alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces and has a poor human rights record. Protests have occurred outside City's stadium with signs explicitly naming the UAE and calling for a boycott.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak was recently seen with US President Donald Trump at a "board of peace" event in his role with the Emirati government, drawing criticism from City fans online.

The appearance at Thursday's concert, which featured musicians from the local area, high-profile Spanish artists, and groups from France, Mali, and Palestine, came just one day after City's home Champions League game against Galatasaray. Guardiola's public support for Palestine stands in stark contrast to the tendency of many in elite sports to remain silent on geopolitical issues.

The recent ceasefire has been perceived as providing an excuse for world leaders and sporting governing bodies like Uefa and Fifa to avoid further action, despite prior pressure to act. Guardiola's speech serves as a reminder that no progress has been made and calls for active involvement rather than silence.

Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).

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