Sterling calls for Premier League to clamp down on racism

England star Raheem Sterling has called on the Premier League to show the way to other European countries in the fight against racism.

Sterling and his England team-mates were subjected to racist chants during Sunday's 5-1 victory in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro in Podgorica.

Sterling reacted by pulling his ears in front of the home fans when he scored England's fifth goal, with a missile thrown in his direction in retaliation.

Speaking after the game, the Manchester City winger demanded a stadium ban for Montenegro as punishment, while the Football Association released a statement on Tuesday which condemned "abhorrent racist chanting" during the game at the Gradski Stadion.

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the hosts, which includes a charge of racist behaviour - with a partial stadium ban a possible punishment.

But Sterling also faced alleged racist abuse while playing for City at Chelsea in December, the week after a Tottenham fan threw a banana skin at Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

And Sterling is adamant the Premier League clubs and authorities must set an example by taking a zero-tolerance approach.

"Banning one or two people is not going to change anything," Sterling said in quotes reported by the British media on Tuesday.

"That's just one or two people and then there will be next game again and you are going to ban one or two fans again. I think there has to be a more serious take on this.

"The same rules should apply everywhere. It's no time to be just cancelling out two people's season tickets.

"I think that even if it is just two people, the whole stadium is getting it or the whole nation is getting it, so that will make people think a lot more."
- Reluctant leader -
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"I know what colour I am. It's just a shame that some people think it's cool to make fun of you for it."
Asked if his celebration was an outpouring of frustration, Sterling added: "Not an outpouring of frustration, it was just to let them know you're going to have to do better than that to stop us."