FA fines Guardiola for ribbon backing Catalan politicians

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The English Football Association has fined Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for wearing a yellow ribbon in support of Catalan politicians.

Guardiola was fined 20,000 pounds ($28,000) and warned about his future conduct for promoting a political message.

Guardiola said earlier this week that the ribbon was not about independence but support of "four people who are in jail when they didn't do anything to be in jail."

Guardiola was referring to Catalan politicians who have been jailed or went into exile after a secession bid in October. The region held an independence referendum that was banned by Madrid.

Guardiola can continue to wear the ribbon outside games — he wore it during a news conference Tuesday — but not on the sideline during matches.