Raheem Sterling Defends Joe Gomez After Liverpool Star Is Booed by England Fans

Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has hit back at the fans at Wembley who booed Liverpool defender Joe Gomez during Thursday’s 7-0 Euro 2020 qualifying win over Montenegro.

The bust up between the pair, which came shortly after they had already squared up during the Premier League clash between their clubs, had dominated headlines all week.

Despite staying with the squad, Sterling was ​ruled out of contention to play against Montenegro by manager Gareth Southgate as a result of his actions. Gomez didn’t start the game, but boos could be heard as he readied himself to come on as substitute in the second half.

​Sterling took to Twitter after the final whistle to defend Gomez, explaining that it was ‘hard’ to see a teammate subject to booing at the hands of his own supporters and labelled it ‘wrong’.

He also took full responsibility for the incident and has insisted that Gomez is not to blame.

“To all the England fans, I wanted to leave things at it was but tonight I have to speak again,” the reigning FWA Footballer of the Year said.

“It was hard for me to see my team mate get booed for something that was my fault. Joe hasn’t done anything wrong and for me to see someone who keeps his head down and work hard, especially after a difficult week for him, to be booed when he came on tonight was wrong.

“I’ve taken full responsibility and accepted the consequence. I felt as though I had to say this.”

Sterling has become one of England’s most important players over the last couple of years, while 2019 in particular has seen his goal tally for the Three Lions soar. He has scored eight times in eight games this calendar year, compared to just four in 47 previous games.

Having served his punishment, Sterling would be expected to return to the line-up for the final Euro 2020 qualifier against Kosovo. But with England securing their place at the tournament thanks to Thursday night’s win, and Kosovo unable to qualify, it will be a dead rubber affair.

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