‘Sterling’s bravery can kick it out’
ARSENAL midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles hailed Raheem Sterling as “brave” for speaking out about racial abuse and says he suffered from a similar incident as a 12-year-old.
Sterling was subjected to alleged racial abuse during Manchester City’s league defeat at Chelsea on Saturday.
The player later issued a statement accusing the media of fuelling racism in the way it reports certain stories about black players.
MaitlandNiles, when asked if he had suffered racist abuse, said:
“Yes I have.
Not at a professional level but growing up in the youth ranks.
“I think it’s disgusting. I really do credit Raheem for coming out and standing up for himself and other players and speaking about it.
“I think that if a lot of football clubs and some of the players too can join forces to really put our heads to it and try to kick it out, it would be the best thing possible.”
When asked if Sterling making a public statement could be a defining moment in eradicating racism, Maitland-Niles, 21, said: “I hope so. I really do hope so.
“Raheem is a good, brave lad for doing it and
I just hope that more people put their ear towards him and have some sympathy for him, because it’s not the first time it’s happened and we just want it to be the last.”
Maitland-Niles, speaking ahead of tonight’s Europa League tie against Qarabag, says his experience of abuse occurred when he was in Arsenal’s academy.
“It was pretty much similar to what Raheem got,” he said. “I went to pick up the ball for a throw-in and there was a bit of abuse. What can I do? I got on with the game, as he did. It hurts but that’s why it’s important that we need to get rid of it from the game.”
Maitland-Niles says he informed the relevant football authorities of the incident at the time but that “nothing was done about it”.
ARSENAL (probable): Cech; Lichtsteiner, Koscielny, Medley, Maitland-Niles; Guendouzi, Elneny; Willock, Ramsey, Saka; Nketiah.