England striker Raheem Sterling, who missed Sunday’s 2022 FIFA World Cup ™ round of 16 victory over Senegal (3-0) due to a “family problem”, will return to England, but could perhaps return to Qatar afterwards, coach Gareth Southgate told the ITV television channel.
According to ESPN, Sterling’s home in Surrey, England was the scene of an armed robbery.
“He has a family issue to deal with and I spent a lot of time with him this morning, but I left other people to help him with that issue,” Southgate said. He will go back there (to England) to take care of it and then we will see what happens,” he added when asked if the player could then return to Qatar.
According to the English press, armed men broke into the player’s home in Surrey, south London, while his partner and young child were present.
“Clearly, the priority for him is to be with his family and we will support him for that. He will be given all the time he needs,” Southgate added.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on him. Sometimes football really isn’t the most important thing and family comes first,” concluded the coach.
England, who beat Senegal 3-0 in the round of 16, will face the French title contenders in the quarter-finals on Saturday.