Guardiola delivers speech in support of Palestinian children

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered a speech in support of Palestinian children at a charity concert in Barcelona. (AFP file photo)
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Updated 31 January 2026
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Guardiola delivers speech in support of Palestinian children

  • Star Manchester City manager wore keffiyeh at charity concert in Barcelona
  • They have been ‘abandoned’ because ‘those in power are cowards’

LONDON: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered a speech in support of Palestinian children at a charity concert in Barcelona, calling for greater action to protect them.

The star manager, 55, wore a keffiyeh and spoke passionately about his pain at seeing the suffering of Palestinian children, Sky News reported.

“Good evening, salam alaikum, how wonderful,” he told the crowd. “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?’ among the rubble and he still doesn’t know it.

“And I always think, ‘What must they be thinking?’ And I think we’ve left them alone, abandoned.” He added: “I always imagine them saying, ‘Where are you? Come help us.’”

Guardiola said “even now, we haven’t done it,” because perhaps “those in power are cowards,” adding: “They basically send innocent young people to kill innocent people.”

He demanded a “step forward” as part of what he described as a “statement for Palestine and … a statement for humanity.”


Australia injury woes continue with skipper Marsh ruled out of World Cup opener

Updated 11 February 2026
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Australia injury woes continue with skipper Marsh ruled out of World Cup opener

  • Former captain Steve Smith will join squad in Sri Lanka as cover while Travis Head captains team
  • Marsh sustained direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week, Cricket Australia says 

Australia captain ‌Mitchell Marsh will miss the opening game of their Twenty20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on Wednesday with a groin ​injury, Cricket Australia (CA) said.

Steve Smith will now join the squad in Sri Lanka as cover, with fellow batsman Travis Head captaining the side at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium and Matthew Renshaw coming into the team.

Marsh sustained a direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week and is experiencing ‌pain and ‌discomfort which is restricting his ​movement, ‌the ⁠board added.

“Scans ​have confirmed ⁠internal testicular bleeding, and he will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. His return to play will be guided by symptom resolution and medical advice,” CA said in a statement.

Head said at the toss later that Marsh was unlucky to miss out ⁠and appeared to play down the seriousness ‌of the injury. He did ‌not give a timeline for ​his teammate’s return.

“Unfortunately Mitchie ‌Marsh has copped a blow at training a couple ‌of days ago and no one has been willing to massage it out for him,” Head joked after winning the toss and opting to bat.

“He’s the unfortunate one but ‌the rest (of the side) is the same. It’s nice to have a couple ⁠of boys ⁠back from the Pakistan series. Strong team and we’re looking forward to going well.”

Australia are also without fast bowler Pat Cummins, who was ruled out of the event after failing to recover from a niggling back injury. Fellow seamer Josh Hazlewood lost a race to be fit after Achilles and hamstring injuries.

Mitchell Starc has quit the format, leaving them without their top quick bowlers.

The big-hitting Tim David was ​also ruled out of ​the first game as he returns from a hamstring strain.

The 2021 champions take on Zimbabwe in their second match ​on Friday.