Raheem Sterling AXED by Gareth Southgate after ‘trying to grab Joe Gomez around neck in England canteen bust-up’
RAHEEM STERLING has been axed from England’s squad after a sensational bust-up yesterday with Joe Gomez at their training base.
The Three Lions duo had to be pulled apart by stunned team-mates following the altercation in the canteen at St George’s Park.
It came just hours after the pair clashed during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday afternoon at Anfield.
According to the Mail, Sterling – who left Liverpool for Man City four years ago – tried to grab Gomez around the neck following their arrival in the players’ canteen.
He had allegedly sat down when the Reds ace tried to shake his hand, before the heated exchange erupted.
The Mirror claim Sterling took issue with Gomez’s handshake and asked if he was “still the big man”.
The rest of the squad are understood to have initially thought the pair were joking around.
But other England players eventually had to jump in and end the physical confrontation on Monday afternoon.
It is understood the argument started when “banter” about the Reds’ win over City got out of hand.
Manager Gareth Southgate is fuming over the incident, which has disrupted his plans for this week’s Euro qualifiers.
And other Liverpool players are said to be bemused by the encounter.
Sterling was cut from the squad for the Montenegro fixture this Thursday after a crisis meeting.
He apologised to Gomez in person, and the squad as a whole, which saved him from being sent home.
An England statement said: “The FA can confirm Raheem Sterling will not be considered for Thursday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro as a result of a disturbance in a private team area at St. George’s Park today.
“He will remain with the squad.”
And Southgate added: “We have taken the decision to not consider Raheem for the match against Montenegro on Thursday.
“One of the great challenges and strengths for us is that we’ve been able to separate club rivalries from the national team.
“Unfortunately the emotions of yesterday’s game were still raw.
“My feeling is that the right thing for the team is the action we have taken.
“Now that the decision has been made with the agreement of the entire squad, it’s important that we support the players and focus on Thursday night.”
The Three Lions are preparing to face both Montenegro and Kosovo in European Championship qualifiers.
There is not known to have been any bad blood between the rivals before.
Sterling later released a grovelling apology on his Instagram page.
He said: “First and foremost everyone knows what that game means to me.
“Everyone knows that I am not that way inclined and more to the point.
“Unfortunately the emotions of yesterday’s game were still raw.”
England boss Gareth Southgate
“Both Joe and I have had words and figured things out and moved on.
“We are in a sport where emotions run high and I am man enough to admit when emotions got the better of me.
“We move this is why we play this sport because of our love for it.
“Me and @JoeGomez5 are good, we both understand it was a 5-10 second thing, it’s done we move forward and not make this bigger than it is.
“Let’s get focus on our game on Thursday.”
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The row during Liverpool and City’s match had started with pushing and shoving between the two.
The 6ft 2in defender towered over his 5ft 7in rival as they exchanged verbals.
James Milner got in-between the duo and separated them, before the game continued.
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England need just one point from two matches to qualify for Euro 2020, with the Czech Republic hot on their heels in second.
Southgate is already planning to have talks with James Maddison after he was seen at a casino after withdrawing from the squad with illness last month.
The Leicester player was handed a place back in the squad, despite the Three Lions chief being upset about the incident.