Pep Guardiola says he would take his Manchester City side off the pitch if any of his players were subjected to racist abuse.
City winger Raheem Sterling and England teammates Danny Rose and Callum Hudson-Odoi were targeted by racists during the 5-1 Euro 2020 qualifier away to Montenegro on Monday.
All three players publicly condemned the racist abuse and called for action to be taken against those responsible, as did England boss Gareth Southgate.
Now City boss Guardiola has entered the debate on racism by revealing he would be prepared to take his side off the pitch if his players were racially abused.
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“You could do that,” said Guardiola. “Football is a strong weapon to defend the principles of humanity.
“People say you cannot mix politics and football, but that's not true. The club and the players can do it and we would follow. We’d do it.
“I’m not alone at the club, it would have to involve the chairman, the CEO and the captain, but why not?
“The situation changes when you do something. If not, it’s impossible. They express what they express and it’s good for our society to do it."
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Asked if racism was getting worse in football, Guardiola said: “I think in Europe, not in football, it’s getting worse
"Of course it's a concern. I'm a human being and it’s not nice.
“We could do that [walk off the pitch], we could do that. Football is a strong weapon to defend the principles of humanity.
"I remember a long time ago people said you cannot mix politics and football, but that is not true.
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"Politicians is everywhere, human rights is everywhere. A long time ago in Valencia, Guus Hiddink, he didn’t play because there was a Nazi flag behind the goal, so he stopped it.
"When the club or the players or the organisation decide to do it, of course for myself we are going to follow them.
"I’m not alone in the club. I would have to involve the club, the chairmen, CEO and my captain and the team and the players, if we all together decide we can signal to do it, why not? The situation changes when you do something, if not it’s impossible and the situation is always the same.
"That is why when people like him [Sterling] or other cases express what they express it’s good for our future, for our society to do it.”
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Guardiola takes his City side to Fulham tomorrow, seeking a win that would restore them to the summit of the Premier League, above title rivals Liverpool , who do not play until Sunday.
“We have eight games left in the Premier League and, game by game, we will see,” said Guardiola.
“We are going to play 11 games in total [Champions League quarter-finals and FA Cup semi-final], maybe 12, 14 or 15, but we have to deserves it.”
