Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola backs Gerard Pique's criticism of Spanish government over Catalonia independence vote reaction

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Pep Guardiola backed Gerard Pique after the defender criticised the Spanish government over its treatment of people trying to vote in the referendum on independence on Sunday. 

The Manchester City coach also urged the Spanish to learn from the British and allow Catalonia to vote. He said: ‘You can be in agreement with him or not but Pique is a brave guy.'

Barcelona decided to play their fixture against Las Palmas but left thousands of spectators outside after deciding the game would go ahead behind closed doors.

Pep Guardiola backed Gerard Pique after the defender criticised the Spanish government

Pique upset over treatment of people trying to vote in the Catalan independence referendum

Images circulating on social media showed Spanish police using force on those trying to access polling stations and Guardiola said: ‘The whole world has seen what has happened. They have sent 700 people of their own country to hospital. They have broken the fingers of a girl who had gone to vote. I would not have played the game.’

The Spanish government had declared the referendum illegal. Guardiola criticised the Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy and the country’s media.

He said: ‘The only media outlets that will not explain the seriousness of what has happened will the be the Spanish ones.

‘The international community will have seen the images. The Spanish media will be the only ones that don’t show them. I’m annoyed that Rajoy has not spoken about those injured.’

 The Man City coach also urged the Spanish to learn from British and allow Catalonia to vote

Guardiola urged the Spanish government to give Catalonia a legal vote on independence, and said: ‘Why don’t we learn from the British who have had many more centuries of democracy than us. We don’t even know if Catalonia wants independence.’

Pique will join up with the rest of his Spain team-mates on Monday. He said: ‘I think I can keep playing for the Spain team because I think that there are many people throughout the country that are completely against the acts we have seen today and who believe in the democracy.

‘If the Spain manager or the Spanish FA think I’m a problem then I have no problem in stepping aside and leaving the team.’