I agree it can send a bad message. But if the players coming in do their jobs well, fans will forget about who is sold. If, on the other hand, the newcomers turn out to be duds, fans won't forget about it. It all comes down to whether we buy players who go on to actually improve the squad. If we pick up another Alberto Aquilani or Stewart Downing or Charlie Adam, people will remember that we gave away Sterling to do it.
Most fans are decent people. There are, unfortunately, a minority of 'fans' who are simply criminals. Lets not beat around the bush. And those criminals need to be singled out and kept out of the sport to full extent possible by rules and the law.
It's also our duty as fans of the decent sort to make it clear to these violent/bigoted 'fans' that we are not behind that kind of behavior.
Unfortunately, I am not seeing enough effort from FIFA and UEFA and without their effective intervention the problems will continue. They are very concerned about making money for themselves and their corporate partners. They are less concerned about dealing with social issues that surround the game. They are almost totally reactive rather than proactive, and even when they react they don't do enough.
You are completely correct, I have heard that when this problem is discussed at UEFA it quickly goes down national lines.
The members from the old communist east stick together, and the southern nations also form a block.
This problem can only be solved if we tackle it together, and not start every discussion well
'we cannot single out one set of fans.'This has the same ring to it as my boys wouldn't do that, that fault in football lays with everybody else.
The throwing of bananas and monkey chants must bet stamped out just as much as intimidation of officials.
I hope that some time in the near future people who really love football take the lead on this, yes it will mean that some people/fans/players will get stamped on. But if it is done across the board to everybody by the same rules then we can beat this, if not we are lost.
The UK was for years the beacon to rest of Europe of how to get rid of racism in football. But as we have seen from resent events this is slipping.
One member of the KNVB said on TV, he heard a member of the English delegation once say to another member (Poland) you cannot critique us were the best, then of course a month later Chelsea plays QPR.
It is this attitude which is our collective undoing, we are only as strong as our weakest link. Thinking that you are perfect is the first step in complacency.
We can only win against the thugs if we are prepared to weed them out of our own clubs and supports groups, and not all ways look to everybody else.
The problem there is that if he sells Sterling, is he going to be relying on Downing?
Oh, and you forgot Andy Carroll
First off I think that Liverpool would love to forget Andy Carroll.