Islamabad, June 11, 2025: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola delivered a heartfelt message during a ceremony at the University of Manchester, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate. While accepting the recognition, the 54-year-old coach expressed deep anguish over the war in Gaza.
“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts my whole body,” Guardiola shared in a moving address, clips of which circulated online.
He emphasized that his remarks were not politically driven: “Let me be clear, it’s not about ideology. It’s not about whether I’m right, or you’re wrong. It’s just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbour.”
The Catalan manager expressed sorrow over the images of young children being killed or suffering in bombed hospitals. “Maybe we think that we see the boys and girls of four years old being killed by the bomb or being killed at the hospital because it’s not a hospital anymore, it’s not our business.”
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He became visibly emotional while referencing his own children—Maria, Marius, and Valentina—saying he sees their faces in every child caught in Gaza’s horror.
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Known for his vocal support of Catalan independence, Guardiola has a history of speaking out on humanitarian causes. He was recognised not just for his football achievements—six Premier League titles—but also for his charitable efforts through the Guardiola Sala Foundation, which backs initiatives aiding vulnerable communities.
Others in football have also raised their voices over Gaza. Mohamed Salah urged world leaders to act, and Dutch player Anwar El Ghazi was dismissed by Mainz after posts about the conflict.
