Sterling so sad to hear ‘idiots’ like this in 2019
injury time when Tottenham’s Rose was subjected to monkey chanting after he was booked for a foul when his frustrations boiled over. This is the second time he has been racially abused representing England, the first being in Serbia for the Under 21s in 2012.
Such was the venom from the Montenegro supporters who had remained in the stadium, one fan could be seen trying to climb the barriers to get on the pitch but he was held back. It was clear how much it had upset Southgate.
The manager added: ‘I definitely heard some abuse of Danny Rose when he got booked at the end of the game. There is no doubt in my mind that happened. We’ll make sure that it’s reported officially, it’s not acceptable. I’m not sure yet about Raheem.
‘I had a quick chat with Danny because I heard what had happened there. I’ve not had a chance to speak with Raheem. Whatever’s happened, we’ll report it. I know what I heard.
‘I’m sitting here trying to find the right balance of my disgust and recognising that differing views of the players in terms of their experiences of the past.’
Asked if he considered leading his players off, he replied: ‘My role is to support and protect my players, first and foremost;most; to speak in the positionon I am in the right way.y. Beyond that, maybee that’s something I’d have to consider in the future.
‘ I have to say, it wasn’t something that came to mind at the time. I would want too have a long discussionon with my players beforee to make sure that was a courseose of action they felt was something they wanted to do, and was something that was going to make a difference.’
Sterling told BBC Radio 5 Live UEFA should consider closing grounds.
‘It is a shame really because it was a massive team performance at a difficult ground, a difficult place to come,’ he said. ‘We knew how difficult it would be, we knew it would be hard at times but we stuck together as a team
‘But then a couple of idiots ruin a great night. It is a real sad thing to hear, I didn’t hear it personally but my team-mate Danny heard it and it is a sad thing to hear. It is a shame we are talking about this, to be honest with you. It is 2019.
‘There should be a real punishment for this, not just for the few people being banned. It needs to be a collective thing. This stadium holds 15,000 and I think the punishment should be that as a nation your fans are chanting racist abuse so I think it should be the whole stadium can’t watch it. RoRoss Barkley said: ‘I was offw off the pitch at the time when it looked like ssomething had happened phappened and a few of the players were looking a bit disappointed. It is nnot acceptable what hhas gone on and I’m susure it will get dealt with by the FA and UEFA. ‘It shshould not be happening. ihappening. YYou would think racism has gone. It is not acceptable.’
Chelsea youngster Hudson-Odoi, speaking on Bein Sports, said: ‘I don’t think discrimination should be anywhere. We have to play a fair game and enjoy the moment but when you’re hearing stuff like that from the fans it’s not right.
‘It’s unacceptable and hopefully UEFA deal with it properly because when I went over there me and Rosey heard it … all the monkey stuff. We just have to keep our heads, keep a strong mentality and hopefully Rosey’s OK as well.
‘If there’s anything we’ll have a chat and discuss it but he’s got a strong mentality, he’s a strong guy, so I think everything will be good and hopefully UEFA do it.
‘I was enjoying the game as well, so to hear stuff like that ... it’s never right but, like I said, you’ve got to have a strong mentality and we’re still delighted with the win.
‘Raheem’s always helped me, no matter what, he’s been talking to me about it and trying to say, “Listen, don’t worry about it. It’s football — people do it and obviously it’s not right in a game but you’ve got to stay strong,’’ and I’ve spoken to him and Rosey about it.
‘They say, “People are always going to be rude to you and say stuff you don’t want to hear, and it’s part of football and you’ve just got to block it out of your head and keep going with the game’’.’
But former England striker Ian Wright, a pundit for ITV last night, accused UEFA of not doing enough to combat racism.
Wright said: ‘They will probably go to UEFA and they’ll fine them a pittance (of an) amount as a deterrent. Nothing will happen and we will probably get the same thing here at some stage again or somewhere else in Europe because they don’t do enough to stop it.’
Fellow former England international Joe Cole said: ‘It is a shame that we come to places like this and have to talk about it, but we need to shine a light on it as a nation and take a lead with it.’