Man jailed for racist attack on Manchester City star Raheem Sterling

A man has been jailed for 16 weeks after admitting racially assaulting Manchester City footballer Raheem Sterling.

Karl Anderson, 29, was jailed at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court today.

The court heard how he attacked Sterling, 23, as the player arrived at City’s training complex before Saturday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur.

The England winger is said to have been confronted by Anderson, who kicked him before racially abusing him using the n-word, outside the complex ahead of the Blues’ 4-1 defeat of Spurs at the Etihad Stadium.

Kick It Out, football’s equality body, said it had been in touch with Sterling to offer him support.

The court was shown CCTV of Anderson, who has a history of football-related violence, driving his van alongside Sterling’s car as the player waited to enter the training ground.

B The attack took place before Sterling’s City side beat Tottenham Hotspur on December 16
Carl Miles, prosecuting, said Anderson, who had been in the vehicle with his partner, started shouting racial abuse at Sterling and called him ‘you black Scouse c***’.

He said Anderson also told the footballer: ‘I hope your mother and child wake up dead in the morning you n*****.’

Mr Miles said: ‘He sets out kicking Mr Sterling to the legs on four occasions.’

The court heard Sterling’s left hamstring was sore after the attack but he did not suffer serious injuries.

In a victim personal statement, which was read to the court, the footballer said he had been ‘completely shocked’ by the incident.

‘I didn’t think this type of behaviour still happened in this country in this day and age,’ the footballer said.

Raheem Sterling said he was ‘completely shocked’ by the attack (Picture: Getty)
Sentencing, chairman of the bench Diana Webb-Hobson said: ‘This was an entirely unprovoked attack. You stopped your car and you got out.

‘The personal statement was very moving, we find injury was sustained.

‘Your previous record was appalling, you don’t seem to learn anything, do you?’

Anderson had 25 previous convictions for 37 offences, including throwing a flare at a police officer during a football match, the court heard.

He was also subject to a football-related violence banning order which prevented him from attending certain matches.

Mr Miles said: ‘He is now finding alternative ways to express violence and aggression, all relating to football.’

John Black, defending, said Anderson, of Woodward Street in Ancoats, Manchester, lost his temper with Sterling after his girlfriend asked him to ask the player for an autograph.

‘He apologises through me to Mr Sterling for his actions,’ the defence lawyer said.