During yesterday’s Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, a Blues supporter could be seen allegedly directing racist abuse at City forward Raheem Sterling. According to ESPN, the Metropolitan Police are now reviewing the footage and Chelsea will also investigate the incident.
This morning, the 24-year-old England international posted a message on Instagram in response to the video: “Regarding what was said at the Chelsea game as you can see by my reaction I just had to laugh because I don’t expect no better,” he wrote.
Sterling then pointed out the differences in media representation when it comes to his black teammates (Tosin Adarabioyo, in this example) versus his white ones (Phil Foden), showing how this only serves to "fuel racism" and "aggressive behaviour."
The headline for Adarabioyo reads: “Young Manchester City footballer, 20, on £25,000 a week splashes out on mansion on market for £2.25 million despite having never started a Premier League match”
For Foden, the headline is: “Manchester City starlet Phil Foden buys new £2m home for his mum”
The attention that Adarabioyo was given by MailOnline comes as no surprise to Sterling, who’s a constant target of the British tabloids. If you’d like 35 examples of such treatment, check out this Twitter thread from Adam Keyworth, which includes shots at Sterling for being tired, for eating breakfast, for getting a tattoo dedicated to his late father and for buying a sink.
The Sun and Daily Mail are two of the three most widely circulated newspapers in the United Kingdom — the problem is much larger than one idiot at Stamford Bridge.