Raheem Sterling has said that newspapers are helping to “fuel racism” by the ways in which they portray young black footballers, explaining that he was not surprised at suffering from apparent racial abuse during Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge because “I don’t expect no better”.
Police are investigating whether Sterling was racially abused by a Chelsea fan during Saturday’s Premier League game. The incident happened in the first half at Stamford Bridge as Sterling went to retrieve the ball.
The Metropolitan Police has said that it is “aware of a video circulating online in which it is claimed racial abuse was allegedly directed at a player.”
“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,” he 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 no better.”
Sterling posted two pictures to his Instagram page, showing Mail Online stories about Manchester City players Tosin Adarabioyo and Phil Foden buying new houses.
The story about Foden, who is white, has the headline: “Manchester City starlet Phil Foden buys new £2m home for his mum.” The story about Adarabioyo, who is black, has the headline: “Young Manchester City footballer, 20, on £25,000 a week splashes out on mansion on market for £2.25million despite having never started a Premier League match”.
“For example, you have two young players starting out their careers, both play for the same team, both have done the right thing. Which is buy a new house for their mothers, who have put in a lot of time and love into helping them get where they are,” writes Sterling.
“But Look how the newspapers get their message across for the young black player and young white player.
“I think this is unacceptable. Both [are] 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.
“[What] helps fuel racism is aggressive behaviour, so for all of 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.”