The Colombian coach treated Raheem Sterling exactly the same way the British media does

Considering the lack of belief in him, it can’t be a shock that Sterling is going through a goal drought for England

Before the World Cup had even started, the English press had already selected their home team target.

Two weeks prior to the tournament, the main story on the front page of The Sun detailed Raheem Sterling’s “sick new tattoo”: an image of an M16 rife on his lower leg (late revealed to be a tribute to his father who was gunned down in Jamaica when Sterling was just two years old). The next day they were ready with another headline about the backlash the newspaper itself had caused. Sky News had to apologise for misquoting Sterling, making it seem as if he had previously used a firearm. It was the latest controversy to unfold around the Manchester City player, who has been under a tremendous level of media scrutiny since joining his previous club Liverpool.

Considering the lack of belief in him, it can’t be a shock that Sterling is going through a goal drought for England. Further articles criticising him aren’t the best motivator, especially when he’s always the one being singled out. On the pitch last night in England’s second round victory over Colombia, an opposition coach appeared to shoulder barge Sterling as the teams went in for half-time, before wagging his finger and shouting at the striker as if he were a child. The way Sterling just turned around and walked away was the reaction of a young black man who has been in similar provoking situations in school, in a match or at the shops.

Another media whipping boy of recent years, who also had spells at Liverpool and Manchester City, is Mario Balotelli. The Italian striker went from enduring horrific levels of racist abuse from the stands, fellow players and the media in his own country, to a hostile reaction in the British papers when he made the switch to the Premier League in 2010. Stories about Balotelli and his reputation as a trouble-maker followed him as it did Nicolas Anelka who the British tabloids dubbed “Le Sulk”.

Before Sterling, it was rising Manchester United prodigy Ravel Morrison who took the flak. Coming from a very tough environment, Morrison’s personal troubles were highlighted more than his mercurial talents and the toxic atmosphere around him was intensified by the attention he was getting. After such coverage in his formative professional years, the odds were stacked against the player. Morrison was said to have been more gifted than his youth team partner, Paul Pogba – another player policed by the media for his hairstyles and style of play.

Young black musicians in the UK, such as Stormzy, Ms Dynamite, So Solid Crew and the entire sub-genre of drill, are no strangers to being under the spotlight for a multitude of sensationalised reasons, and the treatment of Raheem Sterling cannot and must not be looked at in a vacuum. Yes, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and John Terry have been under the microscope at previous tournaments for their behaviour outside of football, but they were all England captains and could arguably expect more attention. They were also older and allowed to make mistakes and become club legends after several scandals.

Whether Raheem Sterling will be afforded that same level of space to grow and thrive in a positive environment is yet to be seen. What is clear to see is that there is a different level of negativity directed towards young black people in the UK, whether they’re athletes, rappers or university students. They are treated like children, as the actions of the Colombian coach demonstrated, and are not allowed to learn from their youthful mistakes. Something needs to give.

Awate is a rapper from Camden. His debut album, ‘Happiness’, focuses on self-esteem, race and class