England manager Gareth Southgate has spoken for the first time about football’s recent problems with racism and commended Raheem Sterling for being brave enough to speak up about it.
Sterling was allegedly racially abused during Manchester City’s defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge earlier in December and afterwards posted a striking statement on social media about the treatment of black footballers.
In an interview with Sky Sports, broadcast on Christmas Day, Southgate hailed 24-year-old Sterling for standing up for himself.
‘It’s easier for me to talk about what I feel about what Raheem's done and how brave he's been in speaking up,’ Southgate said.