Here is everything you need to know about what's going on in the world of sport on this Tuesday morning in the OTB Brief.
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SOCCER
England and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling appeared on the BBC's Newsnight last night to discuss the current anti-racism protest movement.
File photo dated 07-12-2019 of Manchester City's Raheem Sterling during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.He said that English football lacks diversity in coaching and backroom teams.
Sterling highlighted the divergence in the careers of English stars Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole - highlighting the fact that the two white former-pros have quickly landed jobs with top-clubs:
"The coaching staff that you see around football clubs: there's Steven Gerrard, your Frank Lampards, your Sol Campbells and your Ashley Coles. All had great careers, all played for England.
Raheem Sterling of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League match, round of 16 first leg, between Real Madrid v Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by pressinphoto/Sipa USA)"At the same time, they've all respectfully done their coaching badges to coach at the highest level and the two that haven't been given the right opportunities are the two black former players.
"The change is being able to speak to people in Parliament, people at the hierarchy at my football club, football clubs across the country, people at the national team of England, to implement change and give equal chances to not just black coaches but also different ethnicities.
"Give black coaches, not just coaches but people in their respective fields, the right opportunity. I feel like that's what's lacking here, it's not just taking the knee, it is about giving people the chance they deserve."
Players of both teams (Dortmund yellow jersey) kneel around the centre circle before the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Hertha BSC Berlin in Dortmund , Germany, Saturday, June 6, 2020. (Lars Baron, Pool via AP)Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari has called on English football authorities to back clubs and players who make anti-racism gestures when play restarts next week.
He praised FIFA and the Bundesliga for not classing these displays as 'political gestures,' which carry punishments.
The Kick It Out chief highlighted the fact that he believes that the league has a unique platform for players and teams to make a stand:
“I think it’s at the point now where something should be organised – I would love to see every club doing something together but it has to be completely up to the players.
File photo dated 12-11-2019 of Sanjay Bhandari.“It would be a fantastic signal if every club took a knee before a game. You can’t shake hands before kick off, so maybe they could replace it with a new pre-match ritual," he told PA.
Mr Bhandari added that the organisation are in contact with players and that he believes that any response must be player-lead.
Tony Dunne, Manchester United
Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic (bottom) attempts a slide tackle on Liverpool's Adam LallanaThe country has gone two weeks without a covid-19 death and New Zealand Rugby have confirmed the Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament starting this weekend will be played in front of fans.
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