Surprise for Raheem Sterling in the England National Team! He left the camp…
Raheem Sterling, who appeared for England at the 2022 World Cup, returned to the country after armed robbers broke into his home in England.
The Chelsea striker, who has been sidelined in the last 16 matches against Senegal, went home on the first plane to support his family due to the incident while his wife and children were at home. After the armed robbery at Sterling’s high-security mansion, police teams patrolled around the home until Sunday night.
After Sterling’s incident, his teammates also decided to increase the level of security in their own homes. While many players’ spouses and children were in Qatar for the tournament, Sterling’s wife, Paige Milian, was in the stands during the match against Iran. But he was at her house during the robbery on Saturday.
Minutes before the start of the Senegal game, it was announced that Sterling, one of Gareth Southgate’s most trusted players, will not play in the round of 16 due to ‘family matters’.
£300K HOURS
Sterling’s situation was not reported to the players until the team meeting before leaving for Al Bayt Stadium. Southgate have confirmed that the successful winger will leave camp to fly to England, but have given no indication when he will return.
A member of Sterling’s family told The Sun around £300,000 from the watch was stolen in the heist.
Sterling, a father of three, was also targeted by robbers in 2018 while playing for Manchester City and living in Cheshire. However, in that event, the robbers fled when the alarm system was activated.
“FAMILY MUST COME FIRST”
While it is unclear if Sterling will return to the England camp, England national team manager Southgate, speaking after the Senegal match, used the following statements:
“Sterling’s priority is being with his family. We support him and we will let him have all the time he needs. I don’t want to push him. Sometimes football is not the most important thing. Family must come first.”
England will face France in the quarter-finals on Saturday 10 December. Sterling became the second player to return to England for personal reasons, after Ben White.