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Martin Glenn: FA chief saga explained - did he REALY compare Star of David to a swastika?
MARTIN GLENN has been forced to apologise for his incredible comments on Pep Guardiola’s yellow ribbon - but did he say?
Martin Glenn was explaining the thinking behind Pep Guardiola's charge
The FA’s chief executive has been forced to backtrack on claims he made about Guardiola’ yellow ribbon.
Glenn was explaining the charge against the Manchester City boss for wearing his ribbon as a sign of solidarity to the people of Catalonia.
Guardiola has until 6pm tonight to respond to the FA charge relating to the ribbon, which he wears in support of two political leaders who were imprisoned following Catalonia's independence referendum last October.
What did Martin Glenn say?
Glenn defended the move to bring Guardiola before the FA, insisting comparisons cannot be made with sides choosing to display a poppy on their shirt to commemorate Armistice Day.
"We have rewritten Law 4 of the game so that things like a poppy are OK but things that are going to be highly divisive are not," Glenn said.
Pep Guardiola has been charged for wearing his yellow ribbon
"That could be strong religious symbols, it could be the Star of David, it could the hammer and sickle, it could be a swastika, anything like Robert Mugabe on your shirt - these are the things we don't want."
Martin Glenn backlash
Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Simon Johnson said: "I have no problem with The FA clarifying Rule 4 and specifying that ALL religious symbols are prohibited on a kit if that is the case.
"But, in explaining that decision, the CEO of The FA's examples are ill judged and in poor taste.
"The Star of David is a Jewish religious symbol of immense importance to Jews worldwide.
"To put it in the same bracket as the swastika and Robert Mugabe is offensive and inappropriate.
"We will raise formally with The FA the Jewish community's deep disappointment with this statement."
Martin Glenn has apologised for his comments
Martin Glenn apology
Glenn has apologised for comments made about the Star of David when discussing political and religious symbols in
football, saying in a statement: "I will be speaking with the Jewish Leadership Council and to Kick It Out to personally apologise."