After being voted into the PFA Team of the Year, Manchester City star Raheem Sterling was honoured for his stance against racism after being announced as the recipient of the 2019 BT Sports Industry Group's Integrity and Impact Award.
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The former Liverpool star revealed his delight at being able to be an example for the next generation of stars after being presented with the award by national team manager Gareth Southgate on Thursday night.
The 2019 recipient of the Integrity and Impact Award founded by @DowJones is… Raheem Sterling!@sterling7 #BTSIA pic.twitter.com/V9LGdUZhLZ
— Sport Industry Group (@SportIndustry) April 25, 2019
"When the next generation come through, you have to set the example," he said, according to BBC Football.
"Coming through at Liverpool, I had people around me like Steven Gerrard I looked up to. Looking at him I thought, 'What can I do within myself to be half the person and player he was?'.
"You take little things and each year, try and develop not just on the field but off it.
"I was just speaking about my personal experiences; I didn't expect it to get so much attention.
"I just wanted to bring it to the attention of my audience on Instagram. It's been really pleasing to see people listening and trying and do better."
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What punishment should be handed to fans who are found guilty of racially abusing players? Have your say in the comments section below.
