Raheem Sterling accuses media of ‘fuelling racism’ after alleged abuse

England and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has accused some sections of the British media of helping to “fuel racism” with their portrayal of young black footballers after he was the victim of alleged racist abuse during City’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea.

The Metropolitan Police and Chelsea are investigating an incident during the first half of Saturday’s game at Stamford Bridge when Sterling retrieved a ball from beyond the touchline in front of the Matthew Harding stand. Footage was posted on social media of home supporters leaning forward screaming obscenities and one fan allegedly subjecting him to racist abuse.

Five stewards approached the fan in question just before the final whistle and, having allowed him to watch the last few minutes of stoppage time, appeared to accompany him away from his seat at the end of the game. The police have since confirmed no arrest was made.

The incident came after a troubling week for football which saw a Tottenham Hotspur supporter arrested for throwing a banana skin at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyangduring Arsenal’s derby victory at the Emirates stadium. Two people were also arrested in Edinburgh on Saturday for allegedly directing racial abuse at Motherwell’s Christian Mbulu during his side’s defeat at Hearts, with the anti-discrimination body, Kick it Out, calling for leaders in football to take a more proactive approach in dealing with racism in the sport.

Sterling took to Instagram on Sunday morning to suggest he was not surprised by the behaviour of the supporters in question.

I just want to say, I am not normally the person to talk a lot but when I think I need my point heard I will speak up, he posted.

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 no better.

The England international screen-grabbed a story that had appeared on MailOnline last January about his club-mate, Tosin Adarabioyo, under the headline: ‘Young Manchester City footballer, 20, on £25,000 a week splashes out on mansion on market for £2.25m despite having never started a Premier League match’. He went on to reference another story from October about City’s teenage midfielder, Phil Foden, buying a house which had carried the headline: ‘Foden buys new £2m home for his mum’.

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Good morning I just want to say , I am not normally the person to talk a lot but when I think I need my point to heard I will speak up. 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 no better. For example you have two young players starting out there careers both play for the same team, both have done the right thing. Which is buy a new house for there mothers who have put in a lot of time and love into helping them get where they are, but look how the news papers get there message across for the young black player and then for the young white payer. I think this in unacceptable both innocent 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. Which helps fuel racism an aggressive behaviour, so for all the news papers 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 an give all players an equal chance.

A post shared by Raheem Sterling x 😇 (@sterling7) on Dec 9, 2018 at 1:54am PST