Raheem Sterling has backed the Black Lives Matter protests across the world and says racism is the "only disease we are fighting right now".
The death of American George Floyd has sparked mass protests in the United States and UK over the past week, as well as other parts of the world, against police brutality systemic racism.
The Manchester City star has been a vocal campaigner against racism after suffering racist abuse from football supporters on several occasions.
In a video call with BBC Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis which will be broadcast on Monday night, Sterling defended the protestors' actions - adding they are striving to find a solution to the injustice they face.
"I know this might sound a little bit cheesy but the only disease right now is the racism that we are fighting," he said.
"This is the most important thing at this moment in time because this is something that is happening for years and years. Just like the pandemic, we want to find a solution to stop it.
"At the same time, this is what all these protesters are doing. They are trying to find a solution and a way to stop the injustice they are seeing, and they are fighting for their cause.
"As long as they are doing it peacefully and safely and not hurting anybody and not breaking into any stores, they continue to protest in this peaceful way."
As well as backing the protestors, Sterling vowed to continue working to bring about real change to help eliminate racism from sport and wider society.
"There's only so much communities and other backgrounds can take - especially black people," he added. "It's been going on for hundreds of years and people are tired and people are ready for change.
"This is something that needs more than just talking. We need to actually implement change and highlight the places that do need changes.
"But this is something that I myself will continue to do, and spark these debates and get people in my industry looking at themselves and thinking what they can do to give people an equal chance in this country."
