Guardiola calls for increased teacher salaries to combat racism
Pep Guardiola has expressed a belief that teachers should be paid more to combat racism, following an incident involving Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr in midweek, reports BritPanorama.
The Brazil international alleged that he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who has strongly denied any wrongdoing, during Tuesday night’s Champions League tie.
UEFA is currently investigating the match, with the governing body confirming they were launching a probe to determine what exactly transpired.
Guardiola, speaking ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Newcastle on Saturday, commented on the broader implications of such incidents. In his press conference, he stated, “I said the week before. Not for where you were born or for the colour of your skin make us better or worse. There is a lot of work still to do. It is in the society, it is not [just] in football.”
He continued, “Racism is everywhere. You pretend that racism is just for the colour of the skin? How you behave is racism. It’s how you pretend you are better than the other one just for many reasons.” When discussing potential improvements, Guardiola emphasized the role of education in addressing these issues. “The schools. Pay a lot to the teachers. That’s how you deal with it,” he asserted. “The teachers and the doctors have to be the best, the most important people in society, by far. Not the managers.”
Looking ahead to the match against Newcastle, City will aim to capitalize on recent developments in the title race. Arsenal’s draw with Wolves on Wednesday night saw the Gunners miss the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table. Many observers anticipate that City, who have won six titles since Guardiola took charge in 2016, will be keen to take advantage of Arsenal’s faltering form.
However, Guardiola has downplayed the significance of experience in the current context. “Seventy per cent of the players are new, so they don’t have the experience to live these kinds of situations,” he said, adding that the priority remains securing a victory. “An experience is to win tomorrow. It is only one.”
As the focus turns to the imminent match, Guardiola remains resolute. “If you ask me this question with two or three games left, I will have your answer. It’s 12 games left, it’s an eternity,” he noted. “Newcastle is my only concern.”
In a landscape where both football and social issues intersect, Guardiola’s remarks serve as a stark reminder of how the dialogue extends beyond the pitch and into institutions that shape society.
