• Manchester City manager wore ribbon in support of Catalan leaders • FA says message was in breach of its kit and advertising regulations

Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, has been charged by the Football Association for wearing a political message.

The FA said that the yellow ribbon worn by the former Barcelona manager on his jacket in support of imprisoned Catalan politicians was in breach of its kit and advertising regulations.

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Guardiola, whose side face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, has until 6pm on 5 March to respond to the charge.

Guardiola, who was born in the Catalan town of Santpedor and spent the best part of 20 years at Barcelona as player and coach, has previously explained his reasons for wearing the ribbon, which he has sported since at least November.

He said in December: “I do that because in Spain two specific people who defend something like the vote, something the people in command do not agree [with], are in prison. It’s unfair.

“To make a rebellion on something like that, you have to be something tough to be in prison. And they are still there. So, while they are not out, always here [pointing to ribbon] will be shared with me. Because, OK, they can suspend me for doing that but the other people are in jail. If they want to suspend me – Uefa, Premier League, Fifa – it’s OK.”

Guardiola was specifically referring to politicians who were imprisoned for their involvement in the Catalonia independence referendum, which was declared illegal by Spain, in October. Guardiola explained his stance in response to comments from Manchester United’s manager, José Mourinho, who questioned whether the ribbon was within the rules and claimed he would not be allowed to do a similar thing.

Reports in Spain on Friday claimed Spanish police boarded Guardiola’s private jet at Barcelona’s El Prat airport last week to search for the exiled Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont.