Pep Guardiola, the Spanish manager of Manchester City, is a visionary in football tactics and a moral force when it comes to human values. In an era of government collusion and institutional silence, this Catalan speaks out on issues that many dare not address: The world has abandoned Palestine. This is not a political statement. It is a cry of conscience.

His stance on the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza, where tens of thousands of women and children were killed, reveals a man in harmony with his borderless humanity. He did not discuss Palestine as a political issue, but as a crime. He did not seek sympathy. He took a stand. That is what sets him apart.

When he called for support for the symbolic football match between Palestine and Catalonia, he wasn’t just promoting a sporting event. He was confronting the brutal truth that symbolism alone is not enough. Action is required. Over 25,000 people responded, turning the Lluís Companys stadium into a platform of solidarity rather than just a football pitch. Guardiola said: “Symbolism helps raise awareness, but there must be a driving force behind it.” He was that force.

Watch Guardiola on the pitch and you’ll see more than a coach; you’ll see a thinker. He positions players in the same way that he prioritises values. He believes that aimless running doesn’t........

© Middle East Monitor