Raheem Sterling Calls for Coaches From BAME Backgrounds to Be Treated Equally

Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling has called for more coaches from a BAME background to be given opportunities to perform their jobs at the highest level.


The England international has been one of the most outspoken footballers on the issue of racism in recent years.


Protestors have been taking to the streets in recent days in support of the 'Black Lives Matter' movement - in England and around the world - following the horrific and shocking events that led to the death of George Floyd in America. Sterling has since commented on this, explaining that protestors are 'finding a solution'.


The 25-year-old has also discussed the issue of representation, more specifically within the world of football. Sterling provided an example of the paths of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard compared to Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole as coaches - stating that it is Campbell and Cole who haven't been given the right opportunities.


"The coaching staff that you see around football clubs: there's Steven Gerrard, your Frank Lampards, your Sol Campbells and your Ashley Coles. All had great careers, all played for England," Sterling told BBC Newsnight, as quoted by BBC Sport.


"At the same time, they've all respectfully done their coaching badges to coach at the highest level and the two that haven't been given the right opportunities are the two black former players.


Frank Lampard has managed Derby County and Chelsea.

"The change is being able to speak to people in Parliament, people at the hierarchy at my football club, football clubs across the country, people at the national team of England, to implement change and give equal chances to not just black coaches but also different ethnicities."


The Manchester City winger continued by calling for actual change to take place and for people to each receive the chance they deserve. Currently, there is little representation of people from a BAME background on coaching staffs around the country.


"Give black coaches, not just coaches but people in their respective fields, the right opportunity. I feel like that's what's lacking here, it's not just taking the knee, it is about giving people the chance they deserve," Sterling continued.


Raheem Sterling has inspired many with his calls for equality.

"There's something like 500 players in the Premier League and a third of them are black and we have no representation of us in the hierarchy, no representation of us in the coaching staffs. There's not a lot of faces that we can relate to and have conversations with.


"When there's someone from a black background I can go to in the FA with a problem I have within the club, that will be when I know change is happening and not just in my field, also in Parliament. Once we do see those numbers shifting, that's when I'll be happy and the people will be happy."



Source : 90min