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Football

03rd Apr 2019

Raheem Sterling calls out Leonardo Bonucci over his ’50-50 blame’ racism comments

Wil Jones

“All you can do now is laugh”

Raheem Sterling has criticised Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci over his comments that teammate Moise Kean is partially to blame for the racist abuse he suffered in a Serie A game.

The Manchester City midfielder referred to Bonucci’s comments in an Instagram Story. He followed it up with the comment “All you can do now is laugh”, along with some laughing and clapping emojis.

Young Juventus striker Moise Kean suffered racist abuse from the home fans in Juve’s 2-0 away victory over Cagliari on Tuesday evening.

The 19-year-old responded in the best way possible, by scoring his team’s second goal of the game and securing the three points for his team. He then celebrated defiantly in front of the home fans, standing still with his arms outstretched.

https://twitter.com/SwypeSports/status/1113197270097367040

After the game however, his teammate and Italian international Leonardo Bonucci criticised Kean for his celebration, saying he should have stayed with his teammates and that he was the blame for the abuse was “50-50” between him and the Cagliari fans.

“You celebrate goals with your team-mates,” said Bonucci. “He could have done it differently.”

“I think the blame is 50-50. Moise should not have done that and the Curva [fans] should not have reacted in that way.”

Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri also said that Moise Kean should not have gone over to the home fans.

“He shouldn’t have celebrated in that manner,” said Allegri. “He is a young man and he has to learn, but certain things from the crowd also shouldn’t be heard.”

Allegri did however call the abusive fans “idiots” and called for them to be given lifetime bans.