World Soccer Presents - The Prem Era #2 (2022)

70 THE PREM ERA

Sterling

Spotlight on

THE PLAYERS

R

aheem Sterling has been

in outstanding form for both

club and country this season,

starring and scoring in the

Nations League for England as they

won in Spain, while his performances

for Manchester City were recognised

with an award as the Premier League’s

Player of the Month for November.

However,itiseventsoffthepitch

that have proved far more significant.

After he was racially abused by Chelsea

supporters at Stamford Bridge, Sterling

used social media to not only highlight

the abuse but also to express his

concern about the wider portrayal of

black players by traditional media,

notably tabloid newspapers.

The morning after City’s 2-0 defeat

at Chelsea, he took the unusual step

of posting a message to his 4.2 million

followers on Instagram. He commented

on the incident but, more significantly,

highlighted the different newspaper

coverage afforded to two young City

players, one black, one white.

The players in question, Tosin

Adarabioyo and Phil Foden, had both

bought houses for family members,

but the stories had been reported

in markedly different ways.

“I just want to say I am not normally

the person to talk a lot, but when I think

I need my point to be heard I will speak

up,” Sterling wrote. “Regarding what was

said at the Chelsea game, as you can

see by my reaction I just had to laugh

because I don’t expect any better.

“But look how the newspapers get

their message across for the young

black player and then for the young

white player. I think this is unacceptable.

“Both innocents have not done a

thing wrong, but just by the way it has

been worded this young black kid is

looked at in a bad light. It helps fuel

racism and aggressive behaviour. So, for

all the newspapers that don’t understand

why people are racist in this day and

age, all I have to say is have a second

thought about fair publicity and give

all players an equal chance.”

By highlighting the wider issue

of stereotypical reporting within the

media, Sterling sparked a debate about

racism within football and society in

general, and he was backed by his

club manager, Pep Guardiola, who

said: “I spoke with him when I arrived

and he was active on social media and

Instagram and I told him to protect his

private life, and he did.

“He’s less active than when he was

young, more mature, on and off the

pitch – he has two kids. I don’t know

the reason why. Hopefully the criticism

[only] is when he plays s**t, he plays

bad.

“But just for the colour of his

skin – believe me that’s ridiculous

and that’s why everyone...we have to

protect from that situation. The media,

of course [has a responsibility], everyone

and everywhere has. You can write

something and offend, create a conflict.

Today the real power is the media, not

politicians, not the governments, it’s the

media. That’s why you have the

possibility.”

Of Sterling’s wider comment

about racism, Guardiola added:

“Racism is everywhere; people focus

on football but it’s not just in football.

“How we treat immigrants and

refugees, when once in our lives our

grandfathers were refugees. How we

treat them in society – it’s everywhere.

That’s why we have to fight every day.”

John Holmesdale

January 2019

Sterlingtakesonthemedia

“Lookhowthenewspapersgettheir

message across for the young black player

andthenfortheyoungwhiteplayer.

I think this is unacceptable”

Raheem Sterling