England World Cup star slammed for 'disgusting' tattoo
Manchester City and England star Raheem Sterling has been slammed over a new tattoo on his right leg.
The 23-year-old speedster unveiled the new ink at England’s pre-World Cup training camp, sparking immediate outrage.
When you’re training and realised you ain’t post on the gram in couple days.
A post shared by Raheem Sterling x (@sterling7) on May 27, 2018 at 2:41pm PDT
Sterling now sports a tattoo of an M16 assault rifle on his leg, an image that some have labelled “sick” and “disgusting”.
One angry individual even went as far as to argue Sterling should be cut from England’s World Cup squad for his decision to get the tattoo.
“This tattoo is disgusting,” Lucy Cope from ‘Mothers Against Guns’ group told The Sun.
“Raheem should hang his head in shame. It’s totally unacceptable.
“We demand he has the tattoo lasered off or covered up with a different tattoo. If he refuses he should be dropped from the England team.”
English media personality Piers Morgan was one of very few to agree with the condemnation of Sterling’s tattoo, describing it as “clumsy, inappropriate & liable to massive misinterpretation”.
He knew the firestorm it would ignite.
I presume (hope..) Sterling's trying to make some point about his foot being the only 'gun' he shoots with after what happened to his father, but it's clumsy, inappropriate & liable to massive misinterpretation as we're now seeing. https://t.co/8DQvcX4nAI— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 29, 2018
The dynamic winger later took to social media again to explain his decision to have the assault rifle tattooed onto his leg.
“When I was 2 my father died from being gunned down to death,” Sterling wrote.
“I made a promise to myself I would never touch a gun in my life. I shoot with my right foot so it has a deeper meaning.”
Raheem Sterling has posted on Instagram about his gun tattoo following the publication of a story about it pic.twitter.com/vmdxgAMUOq
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) May 28, 2018
Many fans of Sterling also took to social media to defend Sterling, and slam the media coverage of English newspaper The Sun.
People need to leave Sterling alone! He’s explained his tattoo (something he should never have to do as tattoos are personal) bizarre how no one is reporting how his father got shot dead or how that has affected Raheem, instead we’re debating a tattoo ♀️
— ugo monye (@ugomonye) May 29, 2018
Raheem Sterling is a phenomenal individual. The amount of utter rubbish he continuously rises above would floor most. There's the descriptions like 'footie Idiot,' the relentless targeting of his normalcy – shopping, eating – and his family too. He is 23. Just leave him be.
— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) May 28, 2018
Why does the English media hate Raheem Sterling so much? The poor fella can’t do anything without getting criticised for it.
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) May 28, 2018
The way Raheem Sterling gets treated in this country is an absolute disgrace. Criticised for everything he does. Superb talent that we should all celebrate not try and destroy.
— Michael Cox (@MichaelCox3792) May 29, 2018