Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles has voiced his support of Raheem Sterling and revealed his own issues with racism in underage football.
Sterling recently criticised the Daily Mail for double standards regarding two Manchester City players buying their respective mother’s houses and criticised the newspaper’s coverage of how he and other young black footballers spend their money. Sterling’s post suggested this “helps fuel” the racism seen in the stands.
Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings announced his withdrawal from an interview with TalkSport in protest at some of its coverage of the alleged racist abuse of Sterling while Maitland-Niles has now thrown his support behind the England winger.
“Yes, I have [experienced it],” said the 21-year-old.
“Not at a professional level but growing up in the youth ranks. I think it’s disgusting, honestly. I really do credit Raheem for coming out and standing up for himself and other players and speaking about it.
“But, I just think that if a lot of football clubs and some of the players too can join forces to really put our heads to it and try to kick it out, it would be the best thing possible.”
Maitland-Niles said that the incident occurred as a 12-year-old while Arsenal were playing against a German side and he added that it was similar to the abuse Sterling received against Chelsea where he was screamed at from the stands after retrieving a ball that had gone out of play.
“It was pretty much similar to what Raheem got to be honest. I literally went out to pick up the ball for a throw-in and there was a bit of racial abuse behind me.
“What can I do? I just got on with the game, as he did. It hurts. It hurts me to talk about it. It hurts to think about it.
“But I think that’s why it’s so important that we need to get rid of it from the game. It’s not just footballers who need to be on board with it. It’s everyone else: the press, the media and the staff as well.”
Mings said that he would join in on the debate but added that it had to be done in the right way and on the right platform.
‘I will absolutely voice my opinion and play my part for those who do not have as much of a reach,’ he tweeted.
‘It has to be in the right way and on the right platforms though.
‘Silence is deadly for stations and outlets who rely on viewers and listeners.’
