Raheem Sterling: Once vilified, Manchester City star has become a potent voice in soccer racism debate

CNN — After scoring England’s fifth goal, Raheem Sterling, a defiant grin on his face, cupped his ears towards the section of fans in Montenegro that had been racially abusing him and two England teammates. “It was good that Sterling mentioned that but more importantly you have to look at the perception people have of black people generally, not just black footballers and the influence the media plays in formulating those perceptions.” ‘I didn’t mean to be a leader’ Barnes refers to the way in which the media painted the far-right terrorist who killed 50 Muslims in Christchurch, described as an “angelic boy” by the Daily Mirror and “blonde little boy” by the MailOnline. “Sterling has never been anything but honest and transparent and I do know that he was shocked – as many of his colleagues and players were – by, frankly, the pretty sickening treatment they received from certain members of the press about a year ago.” READ: ‘Jews to the gas’ – The anti-Semitism shaming Dutch soccer READ: Footballer banned for racial abuse quits the sport Sterling moved to England from Jamaica as a five-year-old after his dad died from gun violence, the imposing arch of Wembley Stadium visible from the London estate he grew up on. “I made a promise to myself I would never touch a gun in my life time, I shoot with my right foot so it has a deeper meaning.” ‘We are weak on racism’ In a time where Britain’s two leading political parties have been accused of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, perhaps it should come as no surprise that racism permeates into other areas of society, inluding football stadiums. “However, he stopped and reminded everyone that it is not a case of this problem has been solved at home, we’ve got our own house to still get in order – and you know full well he’s also referring to some of those very journalists in that very room.” Southgate and Sterling called for tough sanctions on Montenegro by UEFA, though European football’s governing has a patchy record in the way its meted out punishment for incidents of racist abuse.