Having your name and ‘hippy crack’ included in the same sentence is never a good thing.
Raheem Sterling must have got pretty used to seeing his name in the papers in recent weeks and he’s all over them again this morning for good and bad reasons.
The back pages detail his role in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Newcastle at Anfield in which he scored a cracking opening goal, but it is his appearance on the front page of one particular red-top which will grab most of the attention.
Fresh from the fallout over his refusal to sign a new contract with Liverpool and controversy over a picture of him smoking a shisha pipe, Sterling’s face is plastered on Page One of The Sun today in a front cover that is far from understated as you’re going to get.
Today's front page: Liverpool ace Sterling filmed 'inhaling hippy crack' days before big game http://t.co/ZutHSIGDHk pic.twitter.com/hHiFqnhFTd
— The Sun (@TheSun) April 14, 2015
The front page features Sterling inhaling from an orange balloon alongside the headline ‘Balloony’ and a claim that he was on ‘hippy crack’ days before the Reds’ victory over Newcastle last night.
Footage of Sterling appearing to inhale nitrous oxide, known as ‘laughing gas’ or as The Sun say, ‘hippy crack’ has also been published on The Sun’s website.
It is alleged that the England international passed out, apparently unconscious, in his living room shortly after inhaling the legal high, which is often used in surgery and dentistry for its anaesthetic effects.
Commenting on the release of the footage, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: “I don’t think it is something you should be doing, it’s as simple as that.
“We want players here who are super-professional and focused on their football – I know he is,” added Rodgers.
“It’s not just on the field, it’s off the field as well but I will speak with him on it and we’ll move on.
“Young players make mistakes. As long as they learn from them, that is what is important.”
