After Manchester City’s home win over Tottenham this past weekend, the Telegraph reported that City forward Raheem Sterling had been called a “nigger” and then kicked by an unknown man when Sterling was on his way to the stadium before the game. Today, Manchester police arrested the man they suspect was responsible.
Here’s what the Telegraph reported of the incident:
The England forward was believed to have been kicked and branded a “n——-” by a man who appeared to be waiting for the 23-year-old at the players’ entrance at City’s football academy training base, according to sources.
Sterling had pulled into the entrance in his car as he arrived for City’s pre-match preparations, at which point he is believed to have been confronted by the man hurling a barrage of abuse at him.
Telegraph Sport understands that Sterling got out of his car to ask what the problem was only for the man to react by reputedly kicking the City player in the leg.
Sterling eventually reported the matter to police and it is believed that security cameras on site captured the incident as it occurred. The police released the following statement regarding the arrest today:
“On Monday, December 18, 2017 a report was made to police after a 23-year-old man was subjected to a racially aggravated assault on Clayton Lane in Manchester on Saturday, December 16.
“An investigation was launched and a 29-year-old man was arrested earlier this morning, Tuesday, December 19, 2017, on suspicion of racially aggravated assault. He is now in police custody for questioning. This is being treated as a hate crime.”
Update [December 20, 9:40 a.m. Eastern]: The latest news is that the man police arrested yesterday has admitted to the act and has been handed his punishment.
Sterling was uninjured in the attack, and went on to start in and score two goals in City’s 4-1 win.