Government urged to harness Raheem Sterling's influence to help eradicate racism

Now listen here | Raheem Sterling cups his hands to his ears in a response to the racial abuse directed towards him and his team-mates on Monday night
Michael Regan/Getty Images
Giuseppe Muro27 March 2019

Politicians and the football authorities in Britain were today urged to give Raheem Sterling a leading role in the fight against racism.

Anti-discrimination campaigner Piara Powar called on the Government to harness Sterling’s influence to help eradicate the problem.

Manchester City and Englandstar Sterling has become a unifying figure over his stand against racism and says he is determined to end discrimination in the UK. He has also been outspoken about the media’s portrayal of young, black footballers.

Sterling has warned there is a limit to what he can do to clean up racism but Powar believes the 24-year-old can transcend the sport and be a leader in the fight against discrimination.

Powar, the executive director of anti-discrimination body Fare, told Standard Sport: “When Raheem talks about reaching out to kids, he knows he can act as a role model and a mentor for young people. We have not seen that from black players before.

“That is how he is exceptional. He understands what is going on around him and is stepping forward as a leader, and someone who wants to empower others, to deal with these issues.

“How do governments and others use someone like him? Firstly, you speak to them one-to-one, listen to what he has got to say, listen to his insight and then maybe there is a campaign he can front up. Raheem has made an impact but has the potential to do a lot more.”

England manager Gareth Southgate has hailed Sterling’s actions in tackling racism and said the forward has “made a difference not just in a football sense but in a societal sense”.

Sterling was also praised by Sports Minister Mims Davies yesterday for his stand against racism in Montenegro.

Sterling celebrated his 81st-minute goal in England’s 5-1 win by cupping his hands to his ears, a gesture he later said was a response to racist abuse, while he said he “had to laugh” when he heard alleged racist remarks at Stamford Bridge last December — and the next day he challenged the way the media portray young black players.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s official spokesman yesterday called for “strong and swift action” to be taken by Uefa against Montenegro following the racist abuse aimed at Sterling, Danny Rose and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Powar said: “That is just a soundbite. We have had enough soundbites over the years. It doesn’t achieve what we want. Right now the Government’s focus is on other things. Yesterday was the first day in a long time we have not had a story about Brexit that dominates everything. Longer term, when the Government gets its act together, it needs an assessment of what role someone like Raheem can play before people just blunder in.

“Raheem does not want to get involved in a little poster campaign. But something where he is saying, as he was on Monday, ‘I am a role model to kids from different backgrounds and this is the way I want to empower them and mentor them’.”

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