Guardiola addresses humanitarian crisis at Barcelona concert
A rare public appearance outside football
Pep Guardiola spent his day away from club duties addressing a large audience in his home city of Barcelona. According to the Daily Mail, the Manchester City manager appeared at a charity concert organised in support of Palestinian cultural initiatives at the Palau Sant Jordi arena.
The event took place one day after Guardiola oversaw a Champions League victory with Manchester City, but the evening was focused entirely on humanitarian concerns rather than sport. Organisers said the concert attracted roughly 12,000 attendees.
Speaking without notes to a silent arena
Guardiola walked on stage wearing a traditional black and white Palestinian keffiyeh. According to the Daily Mail, he spoke without prepared notes, opening his remarks by greeting the audience in Arabic before turning to the subject of civilian suffering.
“Good evening, salam alaikum, how wonderful,” Guardiola said at the start of his speech.
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Focus on children affected by war
Much of Guardiola’s address centred on images of children in conflict zones, particularly videos circulating online over the past two years. According to reporting by the Daily Mail, he described scenes of young people searching for parents amid destruction.
“I think what we think when I see a child in these past two years with these images on social media, on television, recording himself, pleading, ‘where is my mother?’” Guardiola said.
He added that such images left him with a sense that vulnerable populations had been abandoned by the international community.
Criticism of political leadership
Guardiola also criticised global leaders, arguing that decisions made by those in power often shield them from the consequences of violence. According to the Daily Mail, he accused political elites of comfort and distance while civilians endure hardship.
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He warned that widespread destruction aims to produce silence and indifference, urging people to resist by remaining engaged and visible. Guardiola concluded by stating that standing with those who are weaker was not only a political position but a moral one.
Cultural support rather than direct aid
The concert featured performances by several Spanish artists, including Rosalia. Organisers said funds raised would be directed toward Palestinian cultural organisations such as the Palestinian Performing Arts Network, rather than immediate humanitarian relief.
According to the Daily Mail, the initiative was intended to preserve cultural expression during prolonged conflict.
A pattern of public advocacy
This was not Guardiola’s first time speaking publicly on political issues. In November, he supported a charity football match between Palestine and Catalonia. According to RAC1, Guardiola described the event as “a cry of solidarity” and criticised what he saw as international inaction.
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In the same interview, he said, “The world has abandoned Palestine.”
Death toll in Gaza
Earlier this week, the Israeli military reportedly acknowledged that the death toll in Gaza had surpassed 70,000, a figure initially released by the Hamas run health ministry. That development formed part of the backdrop to Guardiola’s remarks, according to the Daily Mail.
Guardiola has also previously spoken in favour of Catalan independence and has used public appearances beyond football to address political and humanitarian issues.
Sources: Daily Mail, RAC1
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