Twitter reacts to ‘unfair’ treatment of Raheem Sterling ahead of World Cup
By Kian Long
Raheem Sterling has been given a tough time recently by the English media.
Perhaps inevitably, Raheem Sterling was given the call to Russia this summer. He is one of England’s best players, and this season under Pep Guardiola, he only proved his worth to the country.
England is deprived of electric players who can excite fans whenever they get the ball. Sterling provides exactly this, with pace and flair in abundance. Ageing at still just 23 years old, his potential often goes overlooked.
Of course, if the unfair treatment by the leading English tabloids continues, then his progress may be hindered. He seems a strong character, but all the heavy scrutiny is bound to have a detrimental effect.
The recent backlash has come from Sterling getting a tattoo. Yes, that’s right, a tattoo. It’s a tattoo of a gun, which of course isn’t the most professional, but it’s by no means a disaster like it’s been painted out to be.
Of course, this has resulted in many England fans voicing their opinions ahead of the World Cup, and many of the responses have been positive.
Raheem Sterling always behaves professionally off the field and raises money for charity regularly. What does he get in return? Slandered by the media. The same media who said that a joke about Kane was ‘bad for England’s morale prior to a major tournament’.
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) May 30, 2018
This tweet compares the slander Sterling has received, in comparison to the protection Kane received, which was almost immediate. While Kane is an important player to the England side, it’s vital to treat all players with the same respect.
Perhaps it's time to look at the true Raheem Sterling. The guy who made a "substantial" donation to the Grenfell Tower fund. pic.twitter.com/4zl8e77Acg
— Howard Hockin (@howiehok3434) May 31, 2018
Then, fans were quick to mention all the charitable deeds which Sterling takes part in. Especially in the case of Grenfell Tower, which is close to the hearts of England fans.
Kyle Walker called out Sky Sports on Instagram for ‘lying’ within their statement on Sterling, and since then, Sky Sports took to social media to apologize for what they released.
Last night we made a mistake in our reporting of Raheem Sterling's statement on his tattoo. We apologise for this error and any distress it has caused Raheem and his family.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 30, 2018
Raheem Sterling has been exceptional this season, although it’s not the first time he’s received such heavy abuse. He reportedly suffered racial abuse at the start of the season, but he kept a stiff upper lip and went on to score a brace in the following game.
The Raheem Sterling that played and scored two goals having been racially abused earlier that day pic.twitter.com/wWNwFwgoK9
— Howard Hockin (@howiehok3434) May 31, 2018
It’s clear that English football fans are revolting against the media for the poor treatment on their players, which is extraordinary to see. For too long, players have been beaten down for not meeting the expectations, so a change of approach will be interesting.
I am fully behind Sterling to go out and have a good competition this summer, because if anybody deserves it, it’s him. He is one of the few players in the side who has stood out across the globe, and if any continental fans will watch England, you can guarantee Sterling played a part in the transition.
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How far do you think Raheem Sterling and co. will reach in this year’s World Cup?