‘Still the big man?’ How Raheem Sterling row with Joe Gomez erupted in England canteen
Written by darling on November 12, 2019
A round-up of how Man City’s Raheem Sterling’s bust-up with Joe Gomez played out on England duty
Raheem Sterling’s latest return to Anfield was another miserable one as his Manchester City side suffered a 3-1 defeat leaving them nine points adrift of his former club Liverpool who top the Premier League table but personal ramifications from his bust-up with Joe Gomez continue to pile on the agony for him.
Sterling , who quit the Reds for the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2015 after refusing to sign what manager Brendan Rodgers had described as an “incredible” new contract offer, clashed with Liverpool defender Gomez on the field on Sunday and although it was initially hoped that the flashpoint had been resolved, tempers flared again the following day when the pair joined up on international duty with England.
The result of the subsequent spat has been national team manager Gareth Southgate axing Sterling from his side for Thursday’s Euro 2020 qualifier at home to Montenegro – although he could be considered for the trip to Kosovo on Sunday.
Here’s a round-up of how the national media have been reporting the drama.
The Mirror focus on what was said between the pair and claim that 5ft 7in Sterling asked 6ft 2in Gomez whether he was “still the big man.”
Gomez attempted to shake Sterling’s hand from behind and witnesses said they heard him ask the Liverpool defender whether he was ‘still the big man.’
“It is understood the Manchester City star then went to grab his team-mate before other members of the squad intervened.
“Gomez kept his cool and resisted getting involved but was left fuming by the row and was shocked that Sterling would react in such a way.
“It is understood that Sterling later apologised to his England team mate but it was not enough for Southgate who decided to take the extraordinary action.”
Also in the Mirror, James Whaling adds that Sterling is understood to be upset at being dropped for the Montenegro game as he thinks the situation with Gomez is resolved.
