Darren Moore: Treatment of Raheem Sterling proves there is work to do
Darren Moore believes alleged abuse suffered by Raheem Sterling highlights how much work still needs to be done to tackle racism in football.
Moore is one of eight black and ethnic minority (BAME) managers currently operating across the 92 clubs of the Premier League and the Football League.
He is also coaching Manchester City loanee Tosin Adarabioyo, who has been wrapped up in the Sterling race row following an Instagram post by the England international.
And he believes British football should be setting the precedent for other countries in Europe.
Moore told the BBC: “It’s a shame and disgraceful, if that is the case, if Raheem did suffer abuse at Stamford Bridge.
“With all the governing bodies highlighting and making people aware, for it to be still going on today highlights the ongoing work we have to all come together and abolish it once for all.
“We should really set the precedent here in Britain that it’s something that’s not tolerated.
“We don’t want it to spoil the beautiful game we all so love and serve. And certainly that incident should not be tolerated at all.”
Sterling shared an Instagram post after the event at Stamford Bridge criticising the media for fuelling hatred against black players by identifying the different ways his young Manchester City team-mates Adarabioyo and Phil Foden had been treated.
Adarabioyo, who is currently on a season-long loan at The Hawthorns, received a headline on a national newspaper’s website saying: “Young Manchester City footballer, 20, on £25,000-a-week splashes out on mansion on market for £2.25million despite having never started a Premier League match.”
The same website reported a similar story about Phil Foden, who is white and three years younger, with the headline: “Manchester City starlet Phil Foden buys £2m home for his mum.”
Sterling said: “You have two young players starting out their careers, both play for the same team, both [did] the right thing which is buy[ing] a new house for their mothers who have put in a lot of time and love into helping them get where they are.
“But look how the newspapers get their message across for the young black player and then for the young white player.”
Adarabioyo shared a photo of himself with Sterling alongside a defiant message.
It read: “When they try to abuse and bring us down but God has protected you from all angles! Another year of prosperity @Sterling7.”
Video footage which appeared to show Sterling suffering racial abuse at Stamford Bridge is being investigated by Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police.
Earlier this month, a Tottenham Hotspur fan was arrested after throwing a banana skin at Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Former Albion striker Kevin Campbell told Sky Sports: “What are the authorities going to do about it? It’s all about action now.
“We’ve had it for years, I grew up getting abused, many players who paved the way grew up with abuse.
“It’s not going to go away, what actions are big organisations like the Premier League taking?”
Albion’s famous Three Degrees – Laurie Cunningham, Cyrille Regis, and Brendon Batson – were pioneers for black footballers in the late 1970s and early 80s.
