Fan jibes shackling the kids

RAHEEM STERLING has taken abuse from rival fans whenever he’s touched the ball this season and Dele Alli faced chants of: “You let your country down” from the Crystal Palace end when he came on as a sub for Spurs last weekend.

All because they were part of an England team that crashed and burned at the Euros, again. Sterling and Alli (above) are 21 and 20 respectively. Both are still developing.

I wonder how many of those deeply patriotic England fans realise a possible reason for the pair not living up to their potential at tournaments is the fear of abuse they will get, if they return as failures, from tools like them?