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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tom Doyle

Gareth Southgate angry with England fans who booed Joe Gomez after Raheem Sterling bust-up

Gareth Southgate made his anger clear after England fans inexplicably booed Joe Gomez at Wembley following the defender's bust-up with Raheem Sterling earlier this week.

Sterling missed Thursday night's 7-0 victory over Montenegro - a result which secured the Three Lions' passage to Euro 2020 - following his skirmish with Gomez at St George's Park on Monday.

But despite Sterling apologising in both public and private and making clear that the fault lay with him, it was Liverpool defender Gomez who was jeered when he came on in the second half.

Southgate said after the match that both he and his players were disappointed by the fans who targeted Gomez on what should have been a perfect night for England.

"No England players should ever be booed when they are wearing the shirt - ever," Southgate told reporters after the match.

"I don't get it. So all of the players are particularly disappointed with that."

The abuse aimed at Gomez also left Sterling - who was seen applauding the Liverpool defender as he came on - unhappy in the stands.

Sterling tweeted after the match: "To all the England fans, I wanted to leave things as it was but tonight I have to speak again.

"It was hard for me to see my team-mate get booed for something that was my fault.

"Joe hasn't done anything wrong and for me to see someone who keeps his head down and work hard...

"Especially after a difficult week for him to be booed when he came on tonight was wrong.

"I've taken full responsibility and accepted the consequence. I felt as though I had to say this, get home safe every one."

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