Sterling Returns to England World Cup Squad

Raheem Sterling with Manchester City celebrates with FA Cup Trophy in 2019
Raheem Sterling with Manchester City celebrates with the FA Cup Trophy in 2019. Photo by Dave Shopland/BPI/REX/Shutterstock (10240478dg)

The English Football Association has confirmed that Chelsea attacker Raheem Sterling will rejoin the England World Cup squad after flying home to deal with the aftereffects of a robbery carried out at his home.

Alleged to take place last Saturday evening, the reported break-in is believed to have involved two suspects, both of whom have been taken into police custody.

Sterling left the English World Cup squad on the morning of the team’s 3-0 victory over Senegal in the Round of 16. According to manager Gareth Southgate, the incident had no effect on the team he selected for the match.

“You know you have days where events happen and you have to deal with them,” Southgate stated. “He is on his way home and we’re obviously mindful of him being allowed space and privacy respected so we aren’t going to talk in too much detail.”

Neither Sterling nor his girlfriend, Paige, or his three children were in the house at the time of the incident.

Sterling is expected to rejoin the squad on Friday morning, in time for their clash with France in the World Cup quarter-final in Al Wakrah that evening.