Raheem Sterling has been the victim of an aggressive media campaign, designed to make him England’s scapegoat before the World Cup has even begun and picking up the vitriol that began during Euro 2016, when he performed poorly, like others, including Harry Kane, but bore the brunt of the criticism.

It is blatant and cynical, and the coverage over his tattoo, which everyone who took a modicum of time to look into the reasons for knew was not glamourising knife crime, but was to remember his dad who was shot dead when he was two, was shocking.

Sterling -valued at £81m by Transfermarkt – has probably come to expect it, but it meant that Gareth Southgate mentioning that he turned up 12 hours late for England duty after confusion about his connecting flights back from Jamaica was heavily reported.

It was conflated alongside reporting of his gun ink, becoming an ‘in the same week’ story despite the fact that Sterling returned 10 days ago and the tabloid press kicked up a stink about the tattoo this week when it is not a new thing.

Thankfully, football fans showed some sanity and bravery to stick up for the reputation of a man who is getting a kicking in the press for no particular reason…

[ad_pod ]