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SnarestoneIron 10:46 Tue Aug 14
Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

I normally like Wrighty, but think he's way off the mark here!


Criticism of Manchester City and England winger Raheem Sterling is motivated by racism, says former Arsenal striker Ian Wright.

Sterling, 23, has faced frequent media disapproval, most recently for a tattoo of a rifle on his leg but also for purchasing clothes from Primark and buying his mother a house.

He was also criticised over his World Cup performances for England in Russia.




"How many people do you see get the criticism Sterling gets?" Wright said.

"The football criticism is something every player has to deal with, but what he gets I don't see any other footballer getting," former England forward Wright added on BBC Radio 5 live's Monday Night Club.

"They don't get that stick because for whatever reason they don't rub up the people in the corridors of power the wrong way. I think there is an agenda against him.

"There is an element of people at high end of the media who want to keep that guy down. Simple.

"When you look at the wave of criticism that he takes, there is a certain amount of racism towards it - what else can it be?

"They are picking on him because of the the background he has come from and they want to keep him down, drag him back down. They don't want him to continue to be a success.

"People say you are playing the racism card, but you give me a good reason why Raheem Sterling gets the stick he gets for just being a footballer."
◾Raheem Sterling: What are World Cup critics not seeing?
◾'It was all a dream': Raheem Sterling for The Players' Tribune

Sterling received consistently low ratings on the BBC Sport website's Player Rater tool during the World Cup. His average rating was 4.66 - leaving him above only Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck.

During the tournament in Russia, Sterling wrote a blog post for The Players' Tribune in which he said he no longer worries about the media "picking on him".

Ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, also speaking on 5 live, said: "I think the outside stuff did affect his World Cup performances."

He added: "I don't understand it because last season for City he really matured into a top player. He was one of the reasons why they were so devastating.

"There seems to be an element of people in this country who delight in kicking him and I don't get it."

LeroysBoots 10:54 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

I think Sterling represented the bling culture in some peoples eyes, that's why I thought the interview he did during the World Cup would go a long way to show people who he really is, so I'm surprised he still gets the stick he does.

Hopefully he can carry on putting in the performances that the best coach in the world wants him to, cos he keeps picking him

Lee Trundle 10:55 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

... or it could be quite simply because a lot of people saw his performances for Man City over the season, and then saw his performances for England during the World Cup to why he was criticised?

Even Kane was (rightly) criticised during the latter stages because his performances were poor also.

It had nothing to do with race.

AKA ERNIE 11:02 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

the race card is aged far too easily at times but it say Wright has it spot on here

Far Cough 11:06 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

It has nothing to do with race, it has everything to do with being SHIT when he pulls on an England shirt

wanstead_hammer 11:11 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

So Wrightys world cup shirts that daffy duck bought him did come fm Primani.
THAT's why he's got the hump.

4ever-blowin-bubbles 11:13 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

sterling is also targeted by blacks and asians because he is shit for england and does stupid things so is it still racism

ornchurch ammer 11:14 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

Too simple to say it is down to race.

Did all the black players get criticised? Did all the white players get praised? No.

Kane get more than enough criticism for disappearing after Colombia game in the same way Sterling did for playing shit in every game.

Alex V 11:15 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

Well, of course he's right. Obviously wouldn't expect many on here to see it that way.

ornchurch ammer 11:16 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

The player that virtually the whole country wanted to play instead of Sterling was Rashford. Must be racial.

SnarestoneIron 11:18 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

ornchurch ammer 11:16 Tue Aug 14

Spot on!

, 11:19 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

Ian Wrong.

Grumpster 11:22 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

Yeah, I always criticise players more because they're black and not because their attitude is abysmal or they're actually shit!!

Read he hasn't signed the contract extension for City yet as he thinks he's worth 300k a week.

Fair play to his agent if he manages that.

twoleftfeet 11:22 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

Don’t criticise black people you media racists!

For what it’s worth I think Antonio had a marvellous game on Sunday but was let down by his white team mates.

Russ of the BML 11:26 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

ornchurch ammer 11:16 Tue Aug 14

Spot on. The amount of times I heard people say "drop Sterling for Rashford". This has got fuck all to do with race and I am disappointed in Wrighty over these comments. It sounds to me like he is being deliberately controversial but I fear the topic he is using is way off mark.

Had Sterling been decent in the WC and still got stick then I may see his point. But the bottom line is he cam from a season of being magnificent for City and then delivered abject shit for England in the WC. That's why he is being criticised.

Now that criticism may be mis-guided as people are not seeing the system that City play and England play. If you look deeper it could be that Sterling simply doesn't feel comfortable playing for England. There could be many reasons. But to say it's race is in my opinion laughable.

w4hammer 11:31 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

i cant say I disagree with him . I have no idea why there's so much focus on him in the tabloid press..apart from the colour of his skin ... he's an decent hard working player who has flashes of brilliance and occasional shit-housery.....harry kane, anyone?!

Northern Sold 11:32 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

What a load of SHIT.... did we see the Sterling that plays week in week out for Man City in the WC?? No... the criticism is that he does not reproduce it on a regular basis for his country... it's nothing to do with him being a Scrappy Doo legged cunt...

El Scorchio 11:32 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

Gun tattoo criticism probably a bit racist.

Criticism of his piss poor World Cup NOT racist. His skin colour has nothing to do with it. Plenty of white players have been called out for being gash as well in the past.

Lee Trundle 11:39 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

Alex V 11:15 Tue Aug 14
"Well, of course he's right. Obviously wouldn't expect many on here to see it that way."

hahaha, classic V.

, 11:40 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

This is Ian Wright giving his subjective opinion, it’s not Sterling’s. What Wright needs to do though is figure out why Sterling is a different, inferior, performer when he turns out for England.

Nobody is beyond criticism and sometimes critics get a bee in the bonnet about a particular player and lose objectivity. With Sterling though he is a top player, not a lower PL performer, and we all want to see and know he can do better in an England shirt. We are in danger of letting the race card mask the reality.

The Kronic 11:41 Tue Aug 14
Re: Raheem Sterling: Manchester City winger is targeted by racism, says Ian Wright

Wright is an utter helmet, always has been.

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