Ex-Norwich sporting director 'apologises' for 'disgraceful' comments about Raheem Sterling and four other black footballers

Norwich’s former sporting director Stuart Webber has apologised for comments he made about Raheem Sterling and four other black players, according to a fresh report.

Webber, who departed Norwich in November told PinkUN that the likes of Sterling, Max Aarons and three other players would be in jail if they had not made it in football.

The ex-Norwich chief, who was speaking ahead of an attempt to climb Mount Everest, said: “We want to help the guys who really need it, not the ones who are maybe privileged. I saw that with our young footballers.

“Jonny Rowe wouldn’t mind me saying it but him, Abu Kamara, Max (Aarons), Jamal (Lewis), Raheem (Sterling) back in the day at Liverpool, where they come from it had to work out for them in football because the alternative is potentially jail or something else.”

According to the Mirror, the remarks in the interview, which were published on Saturday, have left the players and their families furious, shocked and deeply offended. One of the players has allegedly even requested an explanation from Webber after contacting him directly.

And Sky Sports have now claimed that Webber has apologised to the players in question after contacting them and their families.

Webber was Liverpool’s director of recruitment from 2009 to 2012, while Sterling was at the Anfield club, while he has also held roles as head of scouting at QPR and Wolves.

The 39-year-old then became sporting director at Huddersfield Town between 2015 and 2017 before moving to Norwich, where he spent six years in the role.

Aarons' mum hit out at Webber's comments on X (Getty)

In response to Webber’s comments, Head of Player Development at Kick It Out Troy Townsend said: “Racially profiling current and former players. Football or jail is it then? Absolute disgrace!”

Meanwhile, Aarons' mother, Amber, accused Webber of "casual racism" on X, while Lewis' mum, Catrina labelled the comments as "very unprofessional".