Sterling urges EPL to clamp down on racism
london — England star Raheem Sterling has called on the Premier League to show the way to other European countries in the fight against racism.
Sterling and his England teammates were subjected to racist chants during Sunday’s 5-1 victory in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro in Podgorica.
Sterling reacted by pulling his ears in front of the home fans when he scored England’s fifth goal, with a missile thrown in his direction in retaliation.
Speaking after the game, the Manchester City winger demanded a stadium ban for Montenegro as punishment, while the Football Association released a statement on Tuesday which condemned “abhorrent racist chanting” during the game at the Gradski Stadion.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the hosts, which includes a charge of racist behaviour — with a partial stadium ban a possible punishment.
But Sterling also faced alleged racist abuse while playing for City at Chelsea in December, the week after a Tottenham fan threw a banana skin at Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
And Sterling is adamant the Premier League clubs and authorities must set an example by taking a zero-tolerance approach.
“Banning one or two people is not going to change anything,” Sterling said in quotes reported by the British media on Tuesday.