Raheem Sterling Sits Out Game Because He’s Tired


Jamaican-born English footballer Raheem Sterling has been heavily criticized for sitting out England’s Euro 2016 qualifier with Estonia in Tallinn after complaining of feeling tired.

According to The Guardian, England manager Roy Hodgson said that Sterling approached him after training on Saturday and asked him to sit out the Estonia game, claiming he was tired. This complaint of fatigue came two days after the 19-year-old played the first 45 minutes of England’s 5-0 win against San Marino.

The Daily Mail reported that Hodgson selected Adam Lallana to replace Sterling on the starting line-up. Sterling came on as a second-half substitute to win the free-kick that was converted by Wayne Rooney.

When Hodgson revealed to the media that Sterling complained of being tired, the 19-year-old drew the ire of many England fans and media commentators.

BBC pundit Alan Shearer is among those to question Sterling’s confession of fatigue in his column for the Sun.

“Too tired! He is 19 – and it’s October. I genuinely have never heard something like that in my career … This will stick with Sterling for some time, believe me. The working man who is up at 6am and home at 8pm does not want to hear how tired a 19-year-old professional footballer is. Perhaps all the attention over the last 18 months has simply gone to his head and he feels able to pick and choose his games depending on how good a night’s sleep he has had.”

Roy Hodgson has defended Sterling, lauding him for his honesty.

Retired Liverpool player Jamie Carragher, in his column for The Daily Mail, also came out in defense of Sterling.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are 19 or 29, if you play nine games in a month, like Raheem did in September, it will leave a mark on you physically. So, in some respects, he has been brave to confront the issue and explain his concerns to Hodgson.”

Sterling has since hit back at his critics on Twitter. He tweeted, “excuse me for being human.”

According to reports from The Inquisitr, Sterling, who is a winger for Liverpool, has been utilized actively in club matches.

This has caused Hodgson to question whether Liverpool is using the correct fitness regime. His comments have put a strain on a rocky relationship with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

The England manager has already angered Rodgers after Daniel Sturridge was injured on international duty last month.

Was Raheem Sterling right to tell Rodgers he’s tired?

[Image via The Mirror]

Share this article: Raheem Sterling Sits Out Game Because He’s Tired
More from Inquisitr