Martin Glenn was clarifying his position on political symbols when he managed to offend the Jewish Leadership Council. A symbol that features prominently on Israeli soccer kits is "something we don't want," he said.
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The chief executive of England's Football Association was criticized on Monday for equating the Nazi swastika with the Jewish Star of David symbol.
Martin Glenn's gaffe came in the midst of a controversy in which Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola violated a ban on political symbols by wearing a yellow ribbon in support of Catalan separatists.
Guardiola has been charged with promoting a political message by wearing a pro-separatist Catalan ribbonImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo/E. Lukatsky
‘Highly divisive'
Glenn was defending the FA's position of allowing remembrance poppies while banning other political symbols, saying:
"We have rewritten Law 4 of the game so that things like a poppy are OK but things that are going to be highly divisive are not."
"That could be strong religious symbols, it could be the Star of David, it could the hammer and sickle, it could be a swastika, anything like (former Zimbabwe President) Robert Mugabe on your shirt — these are the things we don't want."
"To be honest, and to be very clear, Pep Guardiola's yellow ribbon is a political symbol, it's a symbol of Catalan independence and I can tell you there are many more Spaniards, non-Catalans, who are pissed off by it."
"All we are doing is even-handedly applying the laws of the game."
The party of Imran Kahn a legendary former cricketer, has won the most seats in Pakistan's general election. He's not the only pro athlete to turn his hand to politics after hanging up his boots.
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Imran Kahn – Pakistan's new prime minister?
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George Weah — President of Liberia
George Weah, representing the Coalition for Democratic Change, won more than 60 percent of the vote in the runoff of the 2017 Liberan presidential election against the incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai. As a footballer, he played for AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. In 1995 he was named the FIFA World Player of the Year.
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Vitali Klitschko — mayor of Kyiv
Like his brother Wladimir, Vitali Klitschko fought in the ring into his 40s, but Vitali had already begun a political career while still dominating heavyweight boxing. He first fought to be mayor of Ukraine's capital Kyiv in 2006, but only won the job in 2014 after Ukraine's "Maidan" revolution. His fairly fluent German comes in handy when Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (r.) visits.
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Manny Pacquiao — Duterte's successor?
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Romario — '94 World Cup winner, Rio senator
Romario de Souza Faria wore the number 11 and partnered Bebeto up front when Brazil won the 1994 World Cup. Only Pele and Ronaldo have scored more for the Selecao. Now he's a sitting senator for Rio de Janeiro, representing the Socialist party of former presidents Lula and Dilma Rousseff.
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Judy Martz — speed skater and Montana governor
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Ken Dryden — Montreal Canadiens, Liberal Party MP
Montreal Canadiens goaltender and NHL Hall of Famer Ken Dryden — so tall they called him the "four-story goalie" — won the Stanley Cup in his 1971 debut season. He went on to win five more that decade. By 2004, though, Dryden was drafted as a "star candidate" for the Liberal Party of current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He held a seat for seven years, and later even sought the party leadership.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger — to California via Hollywood
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Bill Bradley — New York Knick, New Jersey senator
NBA Hall of Famer Bill Bradley is that rarest of things: a New York Knick with a championship ring to his name. He was part of the 1970 and '73 chamionship teams, the only NBA titles the Knicks have ever won. But he also majored in history at Princeton and grew up a political animal. As a Democrat, he served almost two decades as a New Jersey Senator, even seeking the 2000 presidential nomination.
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Sebastian Coe — gold in the 80s, organizer in 2012
Enlisting Sebastian Coe was quite a coup for Britain's Conservatives under Margaret Thatcher. Winner of the 1,500-meter gold in 1980 and 1984, Coe was an MP by 1992. But he lost his seat in the next election. He was made a Lord, a permanent member of Britain's upper house, in 2000. But he's best known for his work as an ambassador for London's 2012 Olympics, and as current president of the IAAF.
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Gustav-Adolf Schur — DDR cyclist and socialist
An A-list celebrity in the former East Germany, Gustav-Adolf "Täve" Schur was snapped up by the party apparatus early on. Aged just 27 he was already a member of the East German parliament, serving in it from 1958 until its abolition in 1990. After reunification, he served a term in the federal parliament for a socialist party. Some said he shouldn't have got a spot in cycling's hall of fame.
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Gerald Ford — Also a college footballer
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Ayrton Senna — Brazil's missed opportunity?
Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians lined the streets to bid farewell in 1994, after treble F1 champion Ayrton Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix. An aggressive bully on the track, Senna was a different person out of the cockpit: fiercely religious, philanthropic and visibly pained by the plight of Brazil's poorest. Many in the F1 paddock were convinced he'd go into politics one day.
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Jewish response
Simon Johnson, the chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council and former director of corporate affairs at the FA criticized Glenn's wording, saying on Twitter: "The Star of David is a Jewish religious symbol of immense importance to Jews worldwide. To put it in the same bracket as the swastika and Robert Mugabe is offensive and inappropriate."
Sports and politics: In a year in which the soccer World Cup is being held in Vladimir Putin's Russia, Glenn's comments have intensified debate as to what extent politics and sport can be mixed. His attempt to absolve sport of playing a political role appears to have backfired.
Israeli visit: Glenn's problematic comments came after Prince William, who is also FA president, announced plans to visit Israel later this year. Israeli players feature the Star of David on their kits and in their stadiums as it appears on the Israeli flag.
Catalonia controversy: Guardiola is a Catalan sporting icon, who transformed Barcelona's soccer team into a dominating force over fours years as manager. Now manager of Manchester City, he has worn the yellow ribbon for months, but was only recently charged by the FA. He has been criticized for campaigning for Catalonia's right to self-determination while ignoring the considerable human rights violations carried out by the United Arab Emirates, whose deputy prime minister bankrolls Manchester City.
Possible fine: Guardiola could face a possible fine at an FA hearing for violating kit and advertising regulations. The date is yet to be set.
Guardiola and Barcelona - A special relationship
Bayern Munich head coach Pep Guardiola spent most of his career at Barcelona. Starting as a player, he went on to be one of the club's most successful coaches. Ahead of his return home, DW takes a look back.
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A strategist
After making it into Barcelona's famous football school "La Masia" aged just 13, Guardiola eventually became an integral part of the first team. Between 1990 and 2001, he won six league titles, two Spanish cups and a Champions League title at Barca.
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Once partners, now rivals
In 1992, Guardiola (right) also won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. His partner in crime back then was Luis Enrique (left), Barcelona's current head coach. They've maintained a close relationship ever since, adding even more anticipation to their Champions League match-up.
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Return as a head coach
In 2001, Guardiola left Barcelona as the club's then-coach Louis van Gaal turned his eye to younger players. After stops in Italy, Qatar and Mexico, Guardiola returned to coach Barcelona's youth team in 2007. One year later he was named first-team head coach. At 37-years-old he was the third youngest head coach ever at Barcelona.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Giddens
No time for big names
Straight from the start, Guardiola planned a future without stars like Samuel Eto'o, Deco and Ronaldinho. Even Superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who joined the club in a swap for Eto'o in 2009, did not stay long. Pep opted for team-oriented players who understood his idea of possession football and could deliver his famous tiki-taka style of play.
Image: Getty Images/Afp/Josep Lago
Golden era
Guardiola's style brought success - in a big way. The Catalonian club collected 14 titles in four years as the club became the blueprint on modern footballing success. In Pep's first year in charge, Barcelona won it all: La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
Image: Imago/BPI
Catalonian hero
Guardiola became a hero throughout Catalonian for taking Barca back to the top and putting an end to the dominance of the "Galaticos" of rivals Real Madrid. Pep became pretty much synonymous with the club and the whole region.
Image: picture-alliance/EPA/A. Dalmau
Supernatural pivot
Guardiola's most prominent protégé was Lionel Messi (left). Pep put his faith in the diminutive Argentinean, and he responded by become one of the most lethal goal-scoring threats in ths game. Other players who rose to prominence under Pep were midfielders Iniesta and Xavi, defenders Puyol and Pique, and keeper Valdes.
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Star pupil Thiago
One of Guardiola's favourite later pupils was Thiago (right). In 2011, when Guardiola won his second Champions League the midfield magician was in the squad. Pep also brought Thiago to Munich. When asked whom he wanted as a transfer, he allegedly said: "Thiago or no one."
Image: Getty Images/D. Ramos
The end of an era
After four years on the Barca bench, Guardiola stepped down. The constant stress had taken its toll, and the head coach needed a break. His last season at Barca showed it, as the club lost the league title to Real Madrid and was knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea in the semifinals. A Spanish Cup was Guardiola's final trophy.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Albert Olive
A tumultuous friendship ends
Guardiola's long-time assistant Tito Vilanova took over when Pep left. Vilanova was then diagnosed with cancer and treated in New York, but Guardiola didn't visit him, despite living in the city during his sabbatical. Vilanova died before the two could reconcile, and at the wish of Vilanova's widow, Guardiola was not invited to the funeral.
Image: picture-alliance/EPA/A. Olive
Once a fan, always a fan
Wherever Guardiola is employed, part of his heart will always be at FC Barcelona. In March, he and his father watched the club's Champions League game against Manchester City. During the match he was as emotional as any supporter. No surprise considering that he's a season-ticket holder.
Image: picture-alliance/epa/A. Estevez
The first time in the opposite dugout
Now Guardiola returns to "his" team and "his" stadium as as Bayern head coach. For Pep, Barca is certainly more than a club, and no opponent could be more special. Nevertheless, Guardiola was keepiung things low-key, saying "It's just a game." No one is buying that.