Pep Guardiola has been notified of his fine from the Football Association for wearing a yellow ribbon. The governing body of English football has decided to fine Guardiola £20,000 (22,500€, $27,700).
The FA charged Manchester City's trainer on 23rd February for wearing the ribbon, a symbol of support for the Catalan political prisoners. According to the body, the yellow ribbon is a political symbol which contravenes their kit and advertising rules. Guardiola has explained his position to the organisation by letter, saying that he will continue to wear the ribbon regardless.
EFE
Guardiola said that he wears the ribbon for four people held in pretrial detention accused of rebellion and sedition, crimes for which "you have to have weapons". But, he continued, the independence movement doesn't have weapons, it has "the vote and the ballot". He also made it clear he plans to keep wearing the yellow ribbon.
The trainer decided to start wearing the ribbon loop after the first legal consequences following the 1st October Catalan independence referendum in a match against West Bromwich Albion. He has worn it in matches in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
The FA's decision has helped increase international attention on the situation faced by Joaquim Forn, Oriol Junqueras, Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez, behind bars in prisons near Madrid. It even led to many City fans wearing yellow loops of their own in support of their team's coach during the Capital One Cup final against Arsenal at Wembley.