Raheem Sterling awaits fate as images show Jordon Ibe with shisha pipe
|
Version 0 of 1. Raheem Sterling may not discover until Thursday what disciplinary measures, if any, Brendan Rodgers intends to take over pictures of the Liverpool forward inhaling nitrous oxide and smoking a shisha pipe – with the latest images released on Tuesday showing him smoking with team-mate Jordon Ibe. The England international’s use of legal highs prompted a stern warning from the Liverpool manager on Monday. The latest photographs, taken earlier this season, present an additional headache for Rodgers as the 20-year-old’s Liverpool team-mate Ibe is also shown holding a shisha pipe in what is believed to be a London bar. Rodgers had claimed Sterling’s behaviour was unbecoming of a professional sportsperson after footage emerged of the player appearing to pass out having allegedly taken the legal high known as laughing gas at his home near Southport. Sterling had also been pictured in a Sunday newspaper with a shisha pipe 24 hours before the nitrous oxide clip emerged. Tuesday’s pictures suggest Rodgers has an issue to address. He has insisted any disciplinary action against the England international will be dealt with internally but confirmed he would speak to Sterling about the strict code of conduct he expects at Anfield. Rodgers is likely to take a similar course of action with Ibe who, unlike Sterling, is close to signing a new long-term contract with the club. Liverpool’s players were given the day off on Tuesday after their 2-0 Premier League win over Newcastle United on Monday. With the first team squad due to attend the Hillsborough memorial service on the 26th anniversary of the disaster on Wednesday, Rodgers is likely to leave his reprimand until Thursday. The controversy comes at a sensitive time in relations between Sterling and Liverpool with the forward having rejected an offer of a £100,000-a-week, five-year contract and postponed further negotiations until the summer. Sterling remains under contract at Liverpool until 2017 and Rodgers does not expect the young talent to be sold under any circumstances at the end of the season. The players’ union official, Bobby Barnes, has reminded Sterling of his responsibilities as a role model but said the controversy was merely “a minor blip” and the Liverpool player should be treated with understanding. Barnes, the deputy chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association and the European president of the international players’ union, Fifpro, said: “Nobody would condone the use of these types of substances as footballers are seen as role models. It does send a message to young people that if it’s good enough for footballers then it’s good enough for them and that is not desirable. “But you have to bear in mind that we ask an awful lot of young players growing up in the public eye. Many of us look back at things we have done in our teens and early-20s and wish we hadn’t done them. He’s made a mistake and people are human. I am sure this will be a minor blip on his path to a fantastic career. “Players have to be aware that there is a camera on every corner – they are very much in the spotlight. He’s made a mistake. Let’s not be too hard on the boy. People think because he has a lot of talent he’s also supposed to have diplomacy and wisdom. “In the main he’s doing a very good job, he’s at a good club and has a good manager and I’m sure Brendan will put his arm around him and at the same time make him aware of his responsibilities.” |