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Despite his best season as a professional footballer, having already scored 25 goals for his club and his country, Sterling has unfortunately asked more questions about racism than his exploits.
In a post-match interview after the qualifying match for Euro 2020 against Montenegro on Monday, he again found himself in front of the subject.
"We are in 2019 now … we can only sensitize and enlighten the situation," said Sterling.
In the past few months, the 24-year-old Manchester City striker has probably done more than anyone in Britain to promote racial discourse in an effort to change perceptions.
It started with an Instagram post in December, barely 24 hours after Sterling was the victim of racist abuse by Chelsea fans in his team's Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling has a formidable fight, according to former Liverpool and England striker John Barnes, who was thrown a banana at the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton in 1988.
"As long as we do not change our perception of what is black, which means look to the lowest layers of society, look at blacks and treat them the same way we treat whites in the same situation, then nothing will change, "said Barnes. CNN.
"Throughout history, over the past 300 years, we have been told – and we continue to tell us – that there is a certain group of people who are more worthy than us – that's what we need to argue that in society, not just in football, nothing will change.
"It was good that Sterling mentioned this (media treatment), but it is important to look at the perception that people have of blacks in general, not just black footballers and the influence of the media in formulating these perceptions. . "
"I did not want to be a leader"
Barnes refers to the way in which the media portrayed the far-right terrorist who killed 50 Muslims in Christchurch, described as an "angelic boy" by the Daily Mirror and a "blond little boy" by the MailOnline.
As a result of the racist abuse of Sterling, Danny Rose and Callum Hudson-Odoi in Montenegro, Sterling was told that he had become the face and leader at the forefront of the fight against racism in Britain.
On the field, he had yet managed another winning match, listening to the ears of fans who abused him after scoring England 's fifth goal.
Apart from that, whether in interviews or press conferences, he spoke eloquently about the issue of racism, which has unfortunately invaded football and society.
"I did not want to be a leader," Sterling said. "I do not think I'm a leader, it's just something I thought I'd been seeing for a while and that I thought it was sad and I just wanted to educate people."
The Montenegrin Football Federation has stated that it will not comment on the allegations of the English Football Federation but that it would await the outcome of the investigation. UEFA.
Many congratulated Sterling on how he has evolved to become a leader, whether on the field or not. But in reality, it is not he who has changed, all that has changed, is the way the media describe it.
James Kirkham, director of business affairs at COPA90, conducted a survey of young supporters' relationships with football and thinks the natural character of Sterling has seduced him for his new generation of supporters.
"I do not think Sterling sat there and tried to orchestrate it," he said. "Sterling has never been that honest and transparent and I know that he was shocked – like so many of his colleagues and players – by frankly, the rather disgusting treatment they've received from some members of the press about a year ago. "
Sterling left Jamaica to settle in England at the age of five, after his father's death as a result of armed violence, the mbadive Wembley Stadium arch visible from the London estate in which he grew up.
"It was like you were there, I was really like, I can play there, I can do it."
The London club of Queen & # 39; s Park Rangers quickly discovered his talent and engaged him in his academy, before Sterling changed clubs to join Liverpool while he was a teenager.
Sterling made his debut at the Merseyside club while he was only 17 years old. In 2015, his emerging talent convinced Manchester City to pay a record £ 50 million ($ 65 million) for his services.
It was after this gesture that the cover of the press took on a more nasty tone. Sterling was dubbed "silly footie" by a newspaper, while he was criticized for both spending and saving on flying with budget airlines.
The scandal has gained momentum in the prospect of the 2018 World Cup when a picture appeared showing Sterling with a pistol tattoo on his leg.
In the face of scrutiny by the media, the Football Association defended its player, praising his "honest and sincere" explanation for the tattoo.
"When I was two years old, my father died from being shot," he said at the time. "I promised myself never to touch a firearm in my lifetime, I shoot with my right foot, which has a deeper meaning."
"We are weak on racism"
At a time when the two main British political parties have been accused of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, it is perhaps not surprising that racism permeates other areas of society, including football stadiums.
Just a week before Sterling is a victim of racist abuse at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal's Gabon striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, has been thrown a banana by a Tottenham supporter during the Derby's derby. North London.
And while the English coach Gareth Southgate hastened to condemn the abuse suffered by his players in Montenegro, he stressed – as he did when preparing for the World Cup in Russia – that England is far to have his own house in order. .
"I've seen this racism over and over again," British journalist Darren Lewis told CNN. "I saw him in 2004 in Spain, and I often saw him in Europe when I went to cover football games for the Daily Mirror.
"I am sad to say that I have also seen it here in England as well and that there are no degrees of racism.I will not accept anyone else." saying: "This is not as serious here as in Montenegro. "
"We are weak in racism in this country, I do not think it justifies us to be able to give conferences in Montenegro on their problems." Gareth Southgate last night, with great wisdom, stressed the need for English football. When we do that, we can give lessons to other countries. "
Southgate has been widely praised for addressing difficult topics since he became director of England, a refreshing change from the answers given by coaches in the past.
He has constantly redirected the attention of racism in other European countries to England, stressing the need to tackle this problem in British stadiums and in the press before it's over. 39, to attack the morale of other countries.
"When preparing for the World Cup in Russia, he was very open when he said:" Do not just consider the problem of Russia. We have our own problems here, "said Kirkham.
"The other night, he was right to say how much he heard was odious.
"However, he stopped and reminded everyone that the problem was not solved at home, we still have our house to settle – and you know very well that it also refers to some of these problems in the same room ".
"Football can not do anything"
Southgate and Sterling have called on UEFA to impose stiff sanctions on Montenegro, although the governance of European football has an uneven track record with regard to the punishment inflicted for cases of racist abuse.
In May 2018, the Russian Football Federation was fined $ 29,000 for chanting racist slogans, while the Turkish club Besitkas was fined $ 39,400 for an invasion of the land after A cat went on the playing field during a Champions League match the same season.
Sterling called for a total ban on the stadium, while others have suggested that Montenegro be excluded from qualifications at Euro 2020, but Barnes believes that the amount of sanctions will not remedy this problem.
"They (the UEFA) can not do anything, society has to do it," he said. "Football can not do anything, and as long as racism is not eliminated in society, football will be a reflection of society.
"To eliminate racism in football, there is no alternative to racism in society.
"You can not pbad laws to change perceptions, only through education and understanding of why people are racist and work with it, so laws will not change anything."
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