Sterling calls for nine-point deduction

The English national football player Raheem Sterling has called for more severe punishment of clubs for racist aberrations of their fans.

For the 24-year-old, racism against one player should entail an automatic deduction of nine points for the club involved as well as three ghost games. The current system of fines is only an insufficient deterrent.

“It may sound hard, but what kind of fan would risk his team relegating because of racist remarks or even losing the title,” Sterling is quoted in the British daily The Times. “The racism problem in football is so bad, so deep, so far from being solved.”

Sterling, a native of Jamaica, had been the victim of racist insults both in his Manchester City jersey and in the national team. At the European Championship qualifying game in Montenegro (5:1) in March, Sterling had therefore demonstratively covered his ears after the attacks against fellow player Danny Rose.

Racism is increasingly an issue in English football. On Good Friday, footballers on the island called for an unusual boycott and let their social media channels rest for 24 hours.