Catalonia: Pep Guardiola joins independence rally in Barcelona - BBC News
Manchester City manager Pep
Guardiola has joined thousands of protesters in Barcelona to call for
independence for the Spanish region of Catalonia.
He made a strong plea for voters to take part in an independence referendum scheduled for 1 October.
"We will vote, even if the Spanish state doesn't want it," Guardiola told the crowd. "There is no other way."
Surveys suggest Catalan voters would narrowly reject independence, though most favour holding a referendum.
On
Friday, Catalonia regional government leader Carles Puigdemont decided
to hold the vote later this year, in defiance of the government and
contravening a ruling by Spain's Constitutional Court.
It is not clear if the referendum will go ahead.
Guardiola addressed thousands of independence supporters at the rally
