Pep Guardiola unlikely to be punished for pro-Catalan independence symbol

Pep Guardiola was born in the Bages, a county in Catalonia

Pep Guardiola is unlikely to be punished by Uefa despite wearing a pro-Catalan independence symbol during his side's Champions League win on Tuesday.

The Manchester City boss wore a yellow ribbon - a symbol of protest against the recent imprisonment of pro-independence politicians in the Spanish region of Catalonia.

He also wore it in his pre-match news conference on Monday.

A movement encouraging sympathisers to display the symbol began in October.

It was prompted when two prominent separatist leaders were jailed.

While previewing the game against Feyenoord, which City won 1-0, Guardiola said: "If one day in prison was already too much, look how many days they've been there now.

"Like everybody knows, hopefully sooner or later I can stop wearing it (the ribbon).

"All the politicians that are in prison, I hope they can leave and go back home soon with their families and continue living the lives they deserve."

European football's governing body Uefa can punish the use of "gestures, words or objects" that it believes "transmit a provocative message" of a "political, ideological or religious" nature.

However, BBC Sport understands it is unlikely any action will be taken against Guardiola, who has spoken of his support for Catalan independence several times in the past.

Uefa has been reluctant to intervene on issues relating to the independence movement in Catalonia, as evidenced by its apparent compromise with Barcelona over the display of pro-independence flags at the Nou Camp.

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