Sterling and Southgate stick up for Joe Gomez after bizarre England boos

Joe Gomez was involved in a highly-publicised spat with Raheem Sterling during the week

England ran out a 7-0 victory over Montenegro in their Euro 2020 qualifier match on Thursday.

Raheem Sterling was left out of the clash after being involved in a training ground bust-up with Gomez earlier in the week, leading to Southgate expelling him from the matchday squad.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount was replaced by Joe Gomez in the second half of the Thursday night victory.

But unfortunately for the Liverpool defender, his emergence to the pitch was immediately followed up with booing notes from England fans, much to the disbelief of Southgate who later slammed the minority of supporter who were involved in the hostile reception of the defender.


“No, I don't understand it. No England player should ever be booed,” Southgate told Sky Sports.

"We’re a team, Joe has done nothing wrong, absolutely. I've made that clear earlier in the week, so I don’t understand that.

"Him and Raheem are very close and the whole team are very close so we don't want to see anybody treated in that way."

Meanwhile, Sterling who watched the full 90min from the stands was also stunned by compatriots' reaction towards Gomez.

The Manchester City winger wrote on twitter: "To all the England fans, I wanted to leave things at it was but tonight I have to speak again. It was hard for me to see my team mate get booed for something that was my fault.

"Joe hasn't done anything wrong & for me to see someone who keeps his head down and work hard.

To all the @England fans, I wanted to leave things at it was but tonight I have to speak again : it was hard for me to see my team mate get booed for something that was my fault. Joe hasn’t done anything wrong & for me to see someone who keeps his head down and work hard..

— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) November 14, 2019