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'I think there are undertones of racism there' - Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville leap to defence of Raheem Sterling

Alleged abuse directed at Sterling became the talking point on Monday Night Football: Getty Images
Alleged abuse directed at Sterling became the talking point on Monday Night Football: Getty Images

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville have hailed Raheem Sterling’s decision to speak out against 'blatant' undertones of racism in his portrayal in the media.

Sterling was targeted with alleged racist abuse during Manchester City’s defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday with the Blues banning four supporters from Stamford Bridge as part of their ongoing investigation into the incident.

On Sunday, Sterling wrote a message on Instagram where he accused newspapers of helping to ‘fuel racism’ in their portrayal of young black footballers. Referring to Saturday’s incident at Stamford Bridge, he commented “I just had to laugh because I don’t expect no better.”

The subject took centre stage during Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football show, with Carragher, a former teammate of Sterling’s, speaking passionately on the subject, insisting the England international has been forced to carry a negative and inaccurate perception ever since leaving Liverpool for Man City in 2015.

“The perception of people who buy newspapers or read media stuff online is ‘here is a young flash black kid from London'," Carragher said. “A lot of it comes from maybe him moving on from Liverpool. The perception that he is more interested in cars, jewellery, nightclubs than his actual football. Anyone reading that, anyone writing that, I can assure you that is absolute nonsense garbage.

Carragher and Sterling briefly shared a dressing room. (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Carragher and Sterling briefly shared a dressing room. (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“I can’t even remember speaking to him at Liverpool he was so quiet, he got in with is training, he wasn’t loud in the dressing room, he wasn’t late for training, he was just a humble kid who came in and trained well.”

On the negativity stemming his move from Anfield to the Etihad, Carragher added: “He has never been able to shake that off. This tag of being more interested in money and flashness. The fact is his life is put out there, he buys a house for his mother, he might be a car, whatever it may be, that is always the story around Raheem Sterling.

When asked if that portrayal have racist undertones, the former Liverpool skipper added: “Yes, no doubt about it. That is the debate. Is the stuff in the media racist? I think there are undertones of racism there.”

Neville meanwhile revealed Sterling initially approached him about the “vicious” treatment he received during Euro 2016.

"We were aware of that and it continued into the tournament and to the stadiums - there were boos and groans. "It takes a lot for a player to see a coach, he walked in and started to download on me.

"'Why is this happening? Why is this bring accepted?' "He accepted he'd be criticised as a player but felt it was so vicious he didn't know what to do about it."