Raheem Sterling speaks out on Bernardo Silva in wake of racism storm

Manchester City superstar Raheem Sterling has spoken out on Bernardo Silva’s tweet to Benjamin Mendy. Bernardo likened Mendy to a chocolate-covered peanut confectionery mascot. A decision on whether Bernardo will be charged for any racial slur will be decided early next week. “I thought the situation was between two friends,” he said. “I can see the point where some people will feel touchy about it but in that situation, Bernardo made a joke to a friend. He’s not referred to his skin colour, he’s not referred to his lips. In the pictures they’ve both got small heads. The most important thing to me is that he didn’t refer to a colour. We all know and everyone can see Mendy is a black lad. You’ve got to be proud to be black too. “If someone refers to our skin colour with an image you’ve got to take that as a joke. It is sad to see someone like Bernardo the whole week be down about it because he’s not that way inclined and they’re two really good friends. There is no intentional racism. It's not because they are my team-mates and I don't feel there is any racism in it.” “I can understand why the criticism has come,” added Sterling. “I can see where people are coming from. Bernardo doesn’t need to be sorry about it, he’s not in the wrong for me but I can see where people think it is. We just have to be smart on social media because we understand that in this day and age anything you say or do can quickly be judged and it’s a really sad situation. “The club as I would always have believed have handled the situation right and the sooner the FA can understand that this was in no way intentional to be discrimination. Not for one moment does he make a negative comment about his skin colour. He tried to make a joke and that wasn’t the best one but we’ve got to move on and understand it wasn’t intentional.”

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