Raheem Sterling’s home broken into by burglars forcing England ace to race back from World Cup

RAHEEM Sterling was forced to race back from the World Cup today after burglars smashed into his home, The Sun can reveal. The Chelsea ace pulled out of England's last-16 tie with Senegal after learning of the invasion at his Surrey pile on Saturday night.

(Sterling was forced to pull out of England's World Cup bout with Senegal tonight following the burglaryCredit: Alamy)

(A spokesperson for the FA said the Chelsea winger would not play in the game because of a 'family matter'Credit: Rex)

A spokesperson for the FA said Sterling would not play in the game. The statement read: "Raheem Sterling is not available for selection for the #ThreeLions tonight as he is dealing with a family matter."

The shock announcement came just hours before the Three Lions were due to kick off against the African Cup of Nations champs. Speaking after the match, England manager Gareth Southgate said he didn’t know if Sterling would return to Qatar in time for the Three Lions’ clash with France on Saturday.

The England boss said: “We’ve got to wait and see. At the moment clearly the priority is for him to be with his family and we’re going to support that and leave him to have as much time as he needs. He’s going home.”

Asked if the winger would feature in England’s quarter-final match, Southgate said: “I really don’t know because at the moment.

"It’s a situation that he needs time with his family to deal with and I don’t want to put him under any pressure with that. “Sometimes football isn’t the most important thing and family should come first.”

Asked at a pre-match press conference why Sterling was left off the team sheet, Southgate said: "He's dealing with a family matter. "I had quite a bit of time with him this morning but I have now had to pass that on to other people to help him with that. "He's going to go and deal with that matter. And then we will have to take it from there really."

The winger netted once against Iran in England's opening group game. He featured in the goalless draw against the US but was an unused substitute in England's final group game against Wales.

England beat Senegal 3-0 on Sunday night to secure their quarter final date with France. Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka all netted at the Al Bayt stadium to send the African champs home.

England topped Group B with seven points while Senegal were runners up of Group A on six points with the Netherlands coming top. Sterling is the second England player to leave the World Cup early - after Ben White departed Qatar on Wednesday for "personal reasons".

Raheem Sterling vows ‘I won’t go back to the World Cup until my family is safe’ after terrifying raid on his mansion.....

DISTRAUGHT Raheem Sterling has vowed he will only return to England’s World Cup campaign when his family are “safe”. The Three Lions ace’s mansion was targeted by a gang who stole £300,000 worth of watches and designer jewellery — he is said to be the fourth Chelsea FC player hit by them in recent months.

(pictured here with fiancée PaigeCredit: Getty - Contributor)

(A security patrol is seen at the home of couple, in SurreyCredit: LNP)

(The horrific raid took place on Saturday night - less than 24 hours before England’s clash against Senegal - pictured Sterling with Bukayo SakaCredit: Getty Images - Getty)

Police understand his fiancee Paige, 27, discovered the raid on Saturday night, less than 24 hours before England’s clash with Senegal on Sunday.

Raheem, also 27, pulled out of Gareth Southgate’s squad and dashed home after learning of the terror raid. He is hoping to return to Qatar for Saturday’s quarter final against France — but only if he thinks his home is secured and his family are not at risk. A source said: “Raheem has told everyone, ‘There is no way I’m going anywhere unless I’m 100 per cent sure that my family can be kept safe’. He is security conscious and part of the reason they moved into the property was that it is on a very exclusive estate, with regular security patrols.

“Despite this, he has still managed to be targeted, which is very upsetting for Raheem and Paige. They have just moved back to London and want to feel safe.” The family moved into the property in Oxshott, Surrey, after Chelsea paid Man City £47.5 million for the winger this summer.

It is understood Paige returned to the UK from Qatar with his three young children after cheering on Raheem in the group stages. She had a work commitment related to her property firm. Yesterday, Raheem met with detectives from Surrey Police who are investigating the crime.

One of the other Chelsea victims defender Reece James, 22, was raided by a gang who targeted his home in Cobham, Surrey, in September 2021. They stole his safe containing his Champions League, Super Cup and Euro 2020 medals.

source said: “He has got a firm on standby to go straight in to install 24/7 security with enhanced infra red night vision. He’s looking to get dozens of cameras installed. “And he’s going to employ a security firm to patrol his house night and day, and will keep them in place until the World Cup is over. All the jewellery of value has since been removed from the house to a safe deposit place.”

Ref: Raheem Sterling’s home broken into by burglars forcing England ace to race back from World Cup (thesun)