Image via @FabrizioRomano Twitter
After armed intruders stormed into his home while his family was inside, Raheem Sterling left the England World Cup squad in Qatar and flew back to London.
After Sunday’s 3-0 triumph over Senegal in the round of 16, manager Gareth Southgate announced the news.
“Sometimes football isn’t the most important thing and family should come first,” said Southgate.
It is believed that the incident took place on Saturday night. Three small children belongs to Sterling.
According to a spokesperson for the player, Sterling was “shaken” by the news and “as soon as he was alerted he wanted to get home, concerned for the well-being of his children.”
Southgate added: “We want to give him that space and we will see over the next few days how that develops.”
The quarterfinal encounter between England and France in the World Cup is on Saturday.
Following Arsenal defender Ben White, who returned to the UK on November 30 for personal reasons, Sterling is the second player to quit the England team.