Pellegrini talks about the controversy surrounding the Ceuta shirts.

Manuel Pellegini, coach of Real Betis, has chosen to take a calm approach amid the controversy following his team's match against Villarreal, which saw players from both teams wearing shirts bearing a message related to occupied Ceuta.

In a press conference ahead of Betis's match against Getafe, the Chilean coach indicated that he communicated directly with Moroccan international Abde Ezzalzouli, clarifying that their discussion was no different from those he has with his other players.

Pellegini noted that the issue has sensitive dimensions, but emphasized the importance of addressing it without any political exploitation, stressing that football should remain a space that unites players and fans regardless of their differences and opinions.

The Betis coach believes that the pitch brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds and ideas under one team banner, and therefore, football should not become a tool for exacerbating conflicts or allowing political disputes to infiltrate the sport.

He also added that each party has the right to assess events from their perspective, but that athletes have a responsibility, in his view, to continue playing their role in bringing people and nations together, while leaving political dialogue to politicians.

Pellegini's statements come at a time when the incident of the Betis-Villarreal match shirts has sparked widespread debate, especially given the sensitivity of the issue of occupied Ceuta and the surrounding political relations.

Through this stance, the Chilean coach focused on the sporting aspect of the issue, calling for the preservation of football as a space for rapprochement and coexistence, and not allowing political disagreements to affect its message.

Newsletter

Subscribe now to the Hespress newsletter to receive the latest news daily