Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been charged by the Football Association for “wearing a political message, specifically a yellow ribbon”.
He breached the FA’s kit and advertising regulations, the governing body said.
Guardiola said in November he wears the ribbon to support imprisoned politicians in his native Catalonia.
The ex-Barcelona and Spain midfielder has until 18:00 GMT on Monday, 5 March to respond to the charge.
The FA had spoken to Guardiola about the issue in mid-December and two formal warnings have been given which were ignored.
The charge was then triggered when he again wore it pitchside – he is free to wear it elsewhere – during City’s shock FA Cup loss against Wigan on Monday.
Two key members of the Catalan independence movement were held without bail after an independence vote in October, which the Madrid government deemed illegal.
Guardiola had said in November: “If one day in prison was already too much, look how many days they’ve been there now.
“Like everybody knows, hopefully sooner or later I can stop wearing it.
“All the politicians that are in prison, I hope they can leave and go back home soon with their families and continue living the lives they deserve.”
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