LONDON • Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on Tuesday praised his player Raheem Sterling for refusing to be intimidated by the menace of racism in football.
The Englishman allegedly suffered racial abuse from a Chelsea fan during City's 2-0 Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.
Four fans have since been temporarily suspended by Chelsea as investigations continue and, yesterday, The Sun identified one of them as Dean Silsby. He admitted to hurling vulgarities and was sorry, but denied any racist behaviour.
On Tuesday, The Daily Mail had identified the man who was caught on camera, Colin Wing, as the main perpetrator.
Guardiola, speaking about the controversy for the first time, backed Sterling and hailed his decision to speak out.
"I was concerned with what happened but he made a statement on (his) Instagram (page) and was quite clear about his thoughts," he said. "He's an incredible person, an incredible human being.
"It's tough in the 21st century to still be in this position, to have problems with diversity. We have to be better, everyone."
The Spaniard said that racism was rooted in society and insisted more had to be done to combat it.
"People focus on football, but it's not just in football. You'd think in football, we'd be safe, but racism is everywhere," he said. "We have to fight for human rights to make a better society for the future. Today it's dangerous, not just England, all across Europe."
German forward Leroy Sane praised his teammate for showing great dignity in dealing with the abuse, saying: "He is a strong guy, a good guy. He can handle it and he is not letting it get him down."
Separately, Herman Ouseley, who received hate mail earlier this week after talking about the Sterling abuse, revealed he was leaving at the end of the term as the head of Kick It Out, the football anti-racism group he founded in 1993.
He felt the English football authorities had yet to come together to target racism in the game with a "coherent strategy", but he had to step down "to concentrate on some other responsibilities".
"The stuff that Sterling put into the public arena is so important, and that needs to be kept on the highest burner," the British MP said. "A lot more people go to a game and don't want to have that sort of s*** going on - that's progress. But prejudice is still there."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE TIMES, LONDON

Premier League Clubs 'Strongly Opposed' to Proposed UEFA Champions League & Europa League Changes The Premier League has released a statement in which they state unanimous opposition to proposed changes to the structure of both the Champions League and Europa League.
Champions League: Premier League reacts as UEFA makes changes

Injured Suarez to miss China Cup for Uruguay. Suarez, 32, is expected to miss between 10 and 15 days after limping off late in Sunday's 4-1 win at Real Betis in La Liga.
Luis Suarez to miss China Cup for Uruguay due to ankle sprain

Football: Wolves deepen Cardiff's relegation plight with 2-0 win Diogo Jota (centre) celebrates scoring Wolves' first goal with team-mates Raul Jimenez (left) and Morgan Gibbs-White. PHOTO: PA
Wolves deepen Cardiff's relegation plight with 2-0 win

Football News -BARCELONA (REUTERS) - Lionel Messi put Barcelona on the verge of the Champions League final with a devastating double in a 3-0 home win over Liverpool in the first leg of their
Messi torments Liverpool with 600th Barca goal in 3-0 win in

OSIJEK, Croatia (Reuters) - Croatia and Hungary pulled away at the top of Euro 2020 qualifying Group E after victories on Saturday in what is shaping up to be a fiercely competitive pool.
Croatia survive England onslaught, thrive in extra time to

London (AFP) - Former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed manager of Oldham Athletic, the club announced on Monday. Scholes, 44, is taking on his first managerial role, signing a contract with the club he supported as a boy after spending his entire playing career at Old Trafford.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes appointed Oldham manager
global.espn.com/football/oldham-athletic/story/3770928/manchester-united-legend-paul-scholes-appointed-oldham-manager
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has been appointed manager of League Two side Oldham Athletic on a one-and-a-half year contract. Scholes said: "I just feel ready, really. I've had chances before, I've got my A licence and now the time is right. "It's been 20-30 years since there has been excitement at the club.
Manchester United legend Paul Scholes appointed Oldham manager

Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 Advertisement MILAN, Feb 3: Parma forward Gervinho scored twice as his team hit back from 3-1 behind on Saturday to draw 3-3 at Serie A leaders Juventus who dropped points for only the third time in the league this season.

Manchester United vs. Manchester City live updates, score: Guardiola needs win to move back into first Manchester derby could shake up the race for the Premier League title and top four spots
Manchester United vs. Manchester City - Football Match Report

Guardiola dismisses Klopp's claim that Man City have no weaknesses The Independent December 22, 2018 SPORTS Leave a comment Manchester, United Kingdom | AFP | Pep Guardiola on Friday dismissed Jurgen Klopp's suggestion that Manchester City are a team with no sign of weakness as the two battle for the Premier League title.
Football: Guardiola dismisses Klopp's claim that Man City

Jurgen Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic comeback, says Jose Mourinho Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in the competition's history to beat Barcelona 4-0, overturning a three-goal first-leg deficit to advance to their second consecutive final with a 4-3 aggregate victory.
Football: Jurgen Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic

From the Barca-bound superstar to the 'best young centre-half on the planet' and the Southampton outcast: The Ajax stars who have stunned the world with Champions League miracle
Van Dijk, De Jong & Depay can ensure the future is bright and

Hatem wonder strike secures Qatar upset of South Korea. Qatar's Abdulaziz Hatem scored with a stunning late strike as the 2022 World Cup hosts upset Son Heung-min's South Korea 1-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Cup for the first time on Friday.
Football: Hatem wonder strike secures Qatar upset of South

Qatar hammer hosts UAE before hostile crowd, Football News
0 comments:
Post a Comment