Guardiola ready to back players in racism walk-off

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Pep Guardiola has said he would back his players if they ever found themselves compelled to walk off during a game in protest against racist abuse.

The Manchester City manager was talking following the scenes that marred Chelsea’s 1-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur in the London derby on Sunday.

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger reported he was subjected to racist abuse by home supporters which resulted in the Premier League’s anti-racist protocol being initiated for the first time.

Those measures could have seen players leaving the field — a stance Guardiola insisted Monday he would support should it happen in a game involving reigning English champions City.

“Of course. I support my players, I support the initiative,” Guardiola told a news conference.

– ‘Day-by-day battle’ –

“What happened, you have to battle day by day. It’s not about one club or one person or anything specific that happened. I said many times, in the football world it is more in vision because every game, every week, every day, a lot of actions happen.”

The Catalan added: “It is a battle we have to fight it every day, in schools especially, in the families at home to try to make a better society in the future for the next generation. 

“It is a battle day-by-day. Of course, all the initiatives, it happened for the players and the federation, we are going to support.”

Guardiola has been an outspoken anti-racism advocate in his time in the English game but believes the issue extends far beyond football and may never be fully defeated.

“I don’t think it will be completely eradicated. We have to fight but we will need a lot of time to eradicate it,” he said.

“It was a problem that’s happened for decades, centuries. Now you can visualise it more because the media is closer and more up front about the problem. 

“It has happened for a long time. We have to fight, again and again, especially for the little kids, in the schools. Of course, if it happens be strict to avoid these kinds of persons to avoid it happening.”

– Kompany endorsement –

Meanwhile Guardiola, who expects to be without Sergio Aguero, David Silva and John Stones for Friday’s visit to Wolves, also responded to comments from former club captain Vincent Kompany who urged City to sign his old boss to a long-term contract.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2Zgo8CV