Rumor – A video is circulating on social media showing coach Pep Guardiola allegedly refusing to shake hands with an Israeli official in a stadium, supposedly during the Club World Cup, as a form of protest against the country.
Analysis
In times of geopolitical tension, especially amidst the conflict between Israel and Hamas, public gestures by athletes and celebrities are often interpreted as political acts. Recently, a video of Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola went viral with claims that he refused to shake hands with an Israeli official during the Club World Cup, as a silent protest over the Middle East situation.
The posts come with various captions, from brief claims that Guardiola “ignored the Israeli representative” to more detailed accounts suggesting he stopped players from shaking hands with him in front of FIFA. Read the circulating message and watch the video:
Version 1: The famous Spanish coach Pep Guardiola refused to shake hands with the Israeli representative.
Version 2: It was always more than just football. Pep Guardiola, one of the world’s greatest coaches, in front of FIFA officials, does not greet the Israeli representative and prevents his players from doing so.
🇪🇸🇮🇱🚨‼️ The famous Spanish coach Pep Guardiola refused to shake hands with the Israeli representative. pic.twitter.com/Zdaqlu44QT
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) May 27, 2024
Fact-check
The video has been widely shared, especially by profiles engaged in causes related to the conflict. But does the story hold up? Let’s answer three questions to find out what really happened: 1) Did Guardiola refuse to greet an Israeli official during the Club World Cup? 2) When and where was the video recorded? 3) Is the video related to the Israel-Hamas conflict?
Did Guardiola refuse to greet an Israeli official during the Club World Cup?
No. The scene shown in the video did not take place during the Club World Cup nor did it involve an Israeli official. The claim is baseless and completely distorts the facts. According to SportBible and a fact-check from Misbar, the episode occurred during the 2023 FA Community Shield final, after Manchester City lost to Arsenal.
When and where was the video recorded?
As mentioned, the video was recorded on August 6, 2023, during the medal ceremony of the FA Community Shield, a traditional English football competition. At the time, Manchester City lost to Arsenal in a penalty shootout, and Guardiola was seen ignoring one of the individuals distributing medals. The man in question was Englishman Alan Smith, former coach of Crystal Palace and Wycombe Wanderers. He has no ties to the Israeli government.
Is the video related to the Israel-Hamas conflict?
No. The video was recorded two months before the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, 2023. Therefore, there is no temporal or political connection between the footage and recent events in the Middle East. The association made on social media is based purely on forced interpretations, taking the image out of context for ideological purposes.
Conclusion
The video circulating on social media does not show Pep Guardiola refusing to shake hands with an Israeli official. It was filmed in August 2023, in England, and involves former coach Alan Smith. There is no connection with the Israel-Hamas conflict, nor is it a form of protest. This is another fake news story built on real footage taken completely out of context.
Fake news ❌
Ps: This article is a suggestion from readers of Boatos.org. If you’d like to suggest a topic to Boatos.org, contact us via email at [email protected] or WhatsApp (link here: https://wa.me/556192755610)