Are Ian Wright’s racism claims regarding Raheem Sterling correct?

The criticism has been spread across social media for the majority of the summer, with a reported media agenda against Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.

First it was the gun tattoo that featured on the front page of The Sun and his performances for his national team were unfairly criticised by journalists and England fans.

The England winger is a confident youngster and is unlikely to be worried regarding the criticism as shown by his goal celebration against Arsenal when he put his finger to his ear to indicate that he is not listening to any negativity.

Arsenal legend spoke on BBC’s Monday Night Club, where he states that the criticism is motivated by racism.

"“The football criticism is something every player has to deal with, but what he gets I don’t see any other footballer getting. They don’t get that stick because for whatever reason they don’t rub up the people in the corridors of power the wrong way. I think there is an agenda against him.People say ‘you are playing the racism card’, but you give me a good reason why Raheem Sterling gets the stick he gets for just being a footballer.” Ian Wright speaking on BBC Radio Five Live."

Kick It Out chairman has also commented on the situation and has called the criticism ‘shameful’.

So is the former footballer correct? Is racism the right motivation to address the current media agenda against the winger?

The first thing to say, whatever the motivation, the criticism is wrong. To judge someone for getting a tattoo that has family sentiment is wrong. The gun tattoo sparked widespread judgement from journalists before he was able to speak about it and provide an explanation. The justification was not required but was needed before the hatred/criticism got out of control.

His England performances did warrant some negative comments and his play frustrates even the avid City fans at times. However, his performances outweighed the play from Marcus Rashford and Harry Kane in the knockout stages; he had an impressive tournament in Russia without the vital statistics backing his performances up.

I believe Wrighty’s comments regarding on racism are wide of the mark but understandable given that there is no logical reason for this player to receive the level of criticism he does. If racism was behind the comments then the likes of Marcus Rashford, Ashley Young and Dele Alli would be getting the same amount of criticism thrown their way when pulling on the England shirt.

Listening to the segment back, a number of listeners have commented that the motivation is not racism but, purely, for the way he forced himself out of Liverpool or he doesn’t get paid for England.

First thing is that it was his prerogative to leave his previous club and join City, a decision that has truly paid off as he has gone to play some excellent football and won trophies. The England salary query doesn’t need a response as it is complete rubbish.

To see a young boy from Jamaica fulfil his dream, may wind people up but journalism criticism is not warranted on that basis. There is no reason for a media agenda against the player, even publications say they are not targeting the player, that’s why I believe jealousy is the most common reason.

Journalists will say there is no media agenda against him but you are more likely to see Sterling on the front pages rather than any other English footballer. Maybe, its because he is disliked by many opposition supporters that the journalists feel their stories will sell, and sell well.

Whether racism is the motivation or not, Raheem Sterling’s face is splashed onto the front of newspapers far too often – and more frequently than any other footballer – and there simply has to be a reason behind it.