England star Raheem Sterling says he gets why gun tattoo caused public outcry
Ink of an assault rifle on his calf caused controversy last week
RAHEEM STERLING admits he understands the public outcry over his amazing gun tattoo.
Sterling was pictured with an M16 assault rifle inked on his right leg when he joined up with England’s World Cup squad last week.
The forward admitted: “I can most definitely see where they’re coming from — you see a gun on someone’s leg, you are going to automatically think ‘what the hell are you doing?’
“But I’ve had that since August or September. I know there’s been pictures of it before so it’s just a case of why at this moment in time does it then get reported about.”
The answer to that would be that Sterling himself posted it on social media to 3.6million followers.
The Manchester City star added: “I don’t feel there’s an agenda, I wouldn’t say that. It’s just one of those things. It’s World Cup time and news is news.
“I started it in pre-season and then the season got started, I kind of forgot about it and then moved on to football and it’s strictly football until the season finishes. I don’t really take it personally.”
Sterling, 23, insists the tattoo is not intended to glamourise gun crime.
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And England’s No 10 is focusing on doing the business with his team-mates in Russia. He added: “The boys have seen me round the place and, quite frankly, know I haven’t been really bothered by it. They know I’m fine.
“I’ve been through harder stuff in my life.
“I’ve got a massive opportunity here, with a great bunch of players, to represent England at a World Cup. That’s my biggest focus now.”