Raheem Sterling has to be the happiest man in the football world after football European governing body, UEFA hearkened to his cries after he and other England players were subjected to racial abuse in Montenegro.
It was one of England’s national team longest matches after Sterling, Danny Rose and Hudson-Odoi were racially abused during their European qualifiers in Montenegro.
Apparently the national team’s coach, Gareth Southgate had warned his players ahead of the game as he knew the side quite well.
UEFA have ordered Montenegro to play their next European Championship qualifier behind without fans in the stadium, following fans’ racist abuse of England players in March.
UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin had previously described the abuse directed at England’s players in Podgorica as “a disaster”.
Danny Rose was subjected to monkey chants in stoppage time at the end of the encounter in which the Three Lions ran out 5-1 winners while Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi confirmed post-match that he and Rose had heard supporters “saying monkey stuff” during the opening 45 minutes.
Raheem Sterling, who scored England’s fifth on the night, made a point of cupping his ears towards the home supporters after completing the rout.
Speaking after the match, Sterling called on UEFA to invoke a stadium ban as punishment: “It is 2019 and I think there should be a real punishment for this, not just for the few people being banned.
“It needs to be a collective thing. This stadium holds 15,000 and I think the punishment should be that as a nation your fans are chanting racist abuse so I think it should be the whole stadium can’t watch it.”
European football’s governing body has been looking into events of that evening since opening formal disciplinary proceedings against the Montenegrins last month, having received its delegate’s report from the game.
UEFA had also received a complaint from the FA, as well as testimonies from independent observers.
The FA of Montenegro has announced that fans will not be allowed to witness their June 7 clash with Kosovo live from the stadium.
Further charges, carrying fines amounting to €20,000, were handed out due to the use of pyrotechnics, items being thrown onto the pitch and entrances being blocked.
The ban on Montenegro comes a day after Sterling was honoured for his continued fight against racialism and his community aid he has been offering the community, an award he was given by his national team manager, Gareth Southgate.
The Manchester City striker has called on the FIFA to impose a nine points deductions for teams involved in racial abuse.