Pep Guardiola has been told to "focus on football" by Jewish community leaders in Manchester following his remarks about "the genocide in Palestine."
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region issued a statement criticising the Manchester City manager for his continued involvement in geopolitical discussions and said that the club has been "let down by him repeatedly straying into commentary on international affairs."
The organisation has called on high-profile figures to exercise caution with their language amid rising antisemitism globally.
The council said: "We have repeatedly asked for prominent individuals to be mindful about the words they use given how Jewish people have had to endure attacks across the globe."
They added: Pep Guardiola is a football manager. Whilst his humanitarian reflections may be well-intentioned, he should focus on football.
"Manchester City is being let down by him repeatedly straying into commentary on international affairs. This is the second time in a week that he has decided to offer his controversial views on the Middle East conflict."
The JRC, whose comments were supported by North West Friends of Israel, added: "It’s especially galling given his total failure to use his significant platform to display any solidarity with the Jewish community subjected to a deadly terrorist attack a few miles from the Etihad Stadium or the Barcelona community reeling from anti-Semitic violence close to where he once again engaged in remarks we believe to be provocative.
"We implore Mr Guardiola to be more careful with his future language given the significant risk faced by our community."
The local Friends of Israel group pointed out that Guardiola works "seven miles away” from Heaton Park Synagogue, the target of a terror attack last October.
The organisation said: "Guardiola should know words have consequences."
Guardiola's comments came at a press conference ahead of Manchester City's match against Newcastle United, where he spoke passionately about global conflicts, including those in Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan.
He told reporters: "Never, ever in the history of humanity have we had the information in front of our eyes watching more clearly than now."
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The remarks followed an appearance at a pro-Palestinian charity concert in Barcelona five days earlier, where the Spanish manager took to the stage wearing a keffiyeh and criticised political leaders for cowardice.
Israel has firmly rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza, maintaining that it takes precautions to protect civilians and attributing casualties to Hamas operating from populated areas.
At the press conference, Guardiola expressed his anguish over civilian casualties in conflicts worldwide.
He said: "If it was the opposite side, it would hurt me. Wanting harm for another country? It hurts me. [To] completely kill thousands of innocent people, it hurts me. It's no more complicated than that. No more."
The City boss vowed to continue speaking out on such issues, declaring: "When you have an idea and you need to defend [it] and you have to kill thousands, thousands of people - I'm sorry, I will stand up. Always I will be there. Always."
Guardiola also weighed in on Britain’s small boat crisis.
"The people who have to do that, run away from their countries, go in the sea and then go on a boat to get rescued. Don’t ask if he is right or wrong, rescue him. It is about a human being," he said.
Manchester City have declined to comment on the matter when approached by GB News.
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