Man City were gifted the softest of penalties during the early knockings of their Champions League group tie against Shakhtar Donetsk when Raheem Sterling went a-plummeting in the box.
Initially it looked like Sterling had dived in melodramatic fashion, but replays soon revealed that the City forward instead toe-poked the floor and sent himself arse-over-whatsit much to the bemusement of the Shakhtar defence.
Still, referee Viktor Kassai came bounding in to dispense some of that top-notch Champions League officiating we’re all so fond of…
THAT IS A SHOCKER!
Raheem Sterling trips on the turf, unopposed and the referee awards a penalty kick. 😱 pic.twitter.com/vdCDsw8Qsf
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) 7 November 2018
Here is the incident again from the reverse (and hopefully non-geo-blocked) angle…
Total rubbish from all involved. He may be more effective than ever before, but somehow Sterling still looks hopelessly uncertain of the very basics from time to time.
Indeed, it wasn’t long after that the England forward scored a really sumptuous solo goal to put City 3-0 up. Ridiculous to sublime and back again, every 10 minutes.
He’s a perplexing case, is our Raheem.