Pep Guardiola vowed to continue wearing a yellow ribbon in support of Catalan political prisoners no matter what after defying a Football Association charge by displaying it during Manchester City’s Carabao Cup win over Arsenal.

Guardiola was facing further punishment on Sunday for refusing for a third time to bow to the FA’s demand to remove a ribbon which symbolises support for those imprisoned during the ongoing push in the region for a referendum on independence from Spain.

The City manager, charged with breaching FA rules banning political symbols during games, delivered a passionate defence of a public show of solidarity that began in December and has seen his private plane searched twice by police looking for ousted independence leader Carles Puigdemont.

“Before a manager, I am a human being,” Guardiola said, comparing the situation in Catalonia to the recent referenda in the UK on leaving the European Union and Scottish independence.

“You did the Brexit, you let people have their opinion. You allowed Scotland to make a referendum about if you want to stay or not. And, after, the people vote.

“That is what they ask [in Catalonia] and they are in jail right now.”