Sterling: ‘Walking off the pitch lets the racists win,’ says Man City star
England star insists the best thing the players can do is win the games and shut the racists up
RAHEEM STERLING has rejected calls for players who receive racial abuse to walk off the pitch.
The Manchester City forward was speaking after a weekend of football that was marred by shameful events in England and Scotland.
It came just days after Tottenham's Danny Rose said he was looking forward to retiring from a game which has done too little to tackle the problem.
There have been calls for players to walk off the pitch if they are abused, but Sterling said he felt that would be the wrong move.
Speaking at a press conference, Sterling said: "I wouldn't personally agree with it.
"To win the game would hurt them even more, they're only trying to get you down.
"If you walk off they win, to score or win would be better."
I'm black and I'm proud, and I'm confident in my body.
Raheem Sterling
Sterling has consistently raised the issue having received abuse himself, but said he could not understand what drove people to be racially abusive.
He added: "It's offensive but my mum always told me I'm a wonderful black child and I know this.
"I'm black and I'm proud, and I'm confident in my body. Some people can't take it but my mum always told me to love myself and who I am."
Sterling was speaking ahead of City's Champions League clash with Tottenham, whose left-back Rose said last week he "can't wait to see the back of the game" because of inaction on the problem.
Lancashire Police on Monday said a 20-year-old man from Sheffield had been arrested after handing himself in at Blackpool Police Station following an abusive message sent to Wigan player Nathan Byrne on Twitter on Saturday.
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A police statement said: "The man has since been released under investigation pending a charging decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)."
There was also an arrest after Derby's 3-3 draw at Brentford, where Rams midfielder Duane Holmes was the victim of alleged abuse.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Derby manager Frank Lampard said: "(Duane's) OK. He was upset at the time, which is understandable, but now he's OK. It's up to the authorities to deal with it now.
"This is not just a problem for football. It's everywhere."
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Northampton said several members of their first-team squad were also allegedly abused prior to their match at Notts County.
On Monday, a 38-year-old man was charged with using racist language at the Edinburgh derby.
Police Scotland are also investigating after footage was posted on Twitter which purported to show racist abuse directed at Hibernian midfielder Marvin Bartley during his side's 2-1 win over Hearts.
