FA chief executive Martin Glenn has apologised for appearing to equate the Star of David to the swastika during criticism of Pep Guardiola's decision to wear a "highly divisive" yellow ribbon.

Mr Glenn said he was sorry "for any offence caused" by the examples of "political symbols" he gave when criticising the Manchester City manager's decision to repeatedly wear the ribbon, which is a show of support for pro-independence politicians in his native Catalonia.

The 47-year-old has continued to sport the ribbon despite being charged for doing so after the FA ruled it a breach of kit and advertising rules.

Speaking after a meeting of top football officials in Zurich, Mr Glenn said it was "highly divisive" and attempted to justify the charge against Guardiola by including the Jewish religious symbol and the Nazi icon among a list of "political symbols" that the FA did not want displayed on "football equipment".

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Image: Guardiola has been wearing a yellow ribbon in support of pro-Catalan independence figures

"We have re-written Law 4 of the game so that things like a poppy are okay, but things that are going to be highly divisive, and 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 Robert Mugabe on your shirt, these are the things we don't want," he explained.

"And, 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 p***** off by it.

"All we are doing is evenhandedly applying the laws of the game. Poppies are not political symbols, that yellow ribbon is. Where do you draw the line? Should we have someone with a UKIP badge, someone with an ISIS badge?"

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Image: The Manchester City boss has supported Catalan independence

Simon Johnson, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: "I have no problem with the FA clarifying Law 4 and specifying that all religious symbols are prohibited on a kit if that is the case, but, in explaining that decision, the CEO of the FA's examples are ill judged and in poor taste," he said.

"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."

Mr Glenn has since made a personal apology to the Jewish Leadership Council and anti-racism organisation Kick It Out, which Mr Johnson said had been accepted.

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Image: Robert Mugabe was also on Mr Glenn's list of "highly divisive" things that should not be displayed on football shirts

He added: "I spoke to Martin Glenn today. I explained why his comments yesterday has caused such serious offence.

"Martin apologised, explained the context for his comments and stated that he did not intend to cause offence, which I accepted. We have agreed to meet soon along with the CST (Community Security Trust, a charity which supports British Jews). I have thanked the FA for their apology and I am glad that this has been dealt with swiftly."

Mr Glenn had been speaking ahead of the deadline for Guardiola to respond to his charge, which is 6pm on Monday.

Last week the Spaniard said he will only stop wearing the ribbon if Manchester City officials ask him to, or if it adversely affects his side's Premier League-leading form.

He said: "When men and women put on a red (pink) ribbon it's because of the support for the breast cancer initiative. The same as when I wear the prostate cancer badge. The idea is the same."