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Paul Ince with feisty views on THAT Raheem Sterling tattoo

Sky Sports apologises after misquoting Raheem Sterling over gun tattoo furore
Sky Sports apologises after misquoting Raheem Sterling over gun tattoo furore

Former England midfielder Paul Ince has joined the chorus of criticism flowing in the direction of Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling after he unveiled a tattoo of a gun on his leg earlier this week.

An English tabloid newspaper sparked a big talking point when they made Sterling’s gun tattoo a front-page story, with many ex-players suggesting the criticism of the young winger was unjustified.

Yet Paddy Power ambassador Ince suggests Sterling should get the tattoo removed immediately, as he suggests it is setting a bad example to youngsters ahead of this summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.

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“If I was Raheem Sterling, I would take the response to the gun tattoo it on the chin and go and get it removed as soon as possible,” stated Ince.

“Maybe I would put a picture or alternative tribute to my Dad on there. If I was (England manager) Gareth Southgate I’d tell him the same thing – go and get it removed now.

“It’s no new thing that footballers have tattoos, they always have, when I was playing and now. Most of them, though, have some kind of personal meaning to the player.

“There’s nothing worse than losing a parent, like Raheem Sterling has, and so I can see why he would want to get a tribute to his father. But what I don’t understand is why that tribute has to be a gun.

“There’s surely other ways of paying respects to, and remembering, your Dad than having a tattoo of a gun on your leg. It doesn’t sit right with me at all.


“I appreciate that it’s personal preference, but when you think about the gang crime that we have across England, with so many people being stabbed and shot, as well as all the terrorist shootings, it wasn’t the smartest of moves for someone who is so in the public eye.

“He’s at one of the biggest clubs in the world, one that has just won the Premier League, and is now heading to play for his country in the World Cup. And at the end of the day, whether he likes it or not, he’s a role model for thousands of children.

“I believe he will reflect on it, and realise that it probably wasn’t the right thing to do. It’s terrible timing, right ahead of the World Cup, and now everyone is speaking about Raheem Sterling’s tattoo instead of Raheem Sterling the player, or the other England players.”

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