Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson are at the forefront of a social media campaign calling on the government to intervene in improving diversity in football.
On the even of the Premier League season’s restart, Sterling and Henderson are joined by a number of high-profile players, including Jadon Sancho, Kevin De Bruyne and Lucy Bronze.
The Daily Mail claims that the timing of Tuesday’s powerful video was deliberate with Premier League matches to resume on Wednesday night.
Former England striker Gary Lineker contributes to the video, as do Sterling’s ex-City teammate Vincent Kompany and Henderson’s Reds teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Bayern Munich’s David Alaba and ex-City full-back Gael Clichy are also backing the drive for change.
The ten involved have a combined social media following of 60 million.
In an interview with Sky Sports aired on Tuesday, Sterling said: “I feel like I speak for most black people, everyone is tired.
“With the protesting that is going on you see what is happening in America transferring to the UK.
“A lot of people have been in silence and are using this opportunity as a moment to be one and try to get not just answers but changes to society.
“People like myself that have a platform to try to get these messages into the right places and have these conversations that can spark change.
“I’m not someone with the most ideas in the world or know exactly what to do but we just have to highlight these things that people are facing in everyday aspects of their lives.
“It is something that is coming up a lot more which is a good thing. I truly do believe that now is the time that we have to act. I am doing my bit behind the scenes.”
Sterling has been on the receiving end of racial abuse from fans in England and in Europe but the 25-year-old revealed that this has not just happened in the terraces.
The England international spoke about teammates making comments in the dressing room.
He added: “Yes, sly remarks for sure. It goes on today.
“It is in a jokey way but at the same time people have to understand if you haven’t felt it you don’t know what it means to the person you’re saying it to.
“Some people will take it on the chin but at the same time it is not acceptable.
“It has happened in the past, I can’t say too recent, but it has happened in the past where I’ve heard sly remarks in the dressing room.”
