Raheem Sterling is no stranger to the rough and tumble of the relentless pressure of being a black footballer. The outspoken Manchester City star is regularly targeted by the British tabloids which frequently cast him in an unfavorable light allegedly because of the color of his skin. The 25-year-old was also one of a number of England players who constantly face sickening racist abuse while playing for the national team. 

As public outrage over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American whose life cut tragically short in police custody, spills over into UK and rest of the world despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sterling has added his voice to the growing chorus of athletes speaking out against racism and police brutality. 

"I know this might sound a little bit cheesy but the only disease right now is the racism that we are fighting," Sterling told BBC. "This is the most important thing at this moment in time because this is something that is happening for years and years. Just like the pandemic, we want to find a solution to stop it."

"At the same time, this is what all these protesters are doing. They are trying to find a solution and a way to stop the injustice they are seeing, and they are fighting for their cause. As long as they are doing it peacefully and safely and not hurting anybody and not breaking into any stores, they continue to protest in this peaceful way," he added.

Football is rife with racism. Last year, England defender Danny Rose publicly declared that he's "had enough" of football and "can't wait to see the back of it" because of racism in the sport. Italian striker Mario Balotelli, who embroiled in an acrimonious bust-up with his boyhood club Brescia, is routinely taunted by a chorus of monkey chants from fans. 

Sterling said it is time for profound change and called for concrete measures to address the problem.

"It's been going on for hundreds of years and people are tired and people are ready for change. I keep saying this word. I see a lot of people on social [media], supporting the cause. But this is something that needs more than just talking. We need to actually implement change and highlight the places that do need changes," he said. 

"But this is something that I myself will continue to do, and spark these debates and get people in my industry looking at themselves and thinking what they can do to give people an equal chance in this country. Hopefully other industries can do that, and everyday society and the system as well," he added.

The sentiment was echoed by another plain-spoken British celebrity, heavyweight boxing world champion Anthony Joshua, who described racism as a "pandemic" when he addressed protesters at a Black Lives Matter march. 

"The virus has been declared a pandemic," proclaimed Joshua. "This is out of control. And I'm not talking about COVID-19. The virus I'm talking about is called racism." 

Joshua's world heavyweight title defense against Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev scheduled for this month was postponed due to the coronavirus crisis, but the 30-year-old was more concerned about the prevalent racism in different sections of society. 

"We stand united against a virus which has been instrumental in taking lives, taking lives of the young, old, rich, poor; a virus which is unapologetic and spreads across all sectors," he observed. "We can no longer sit back and remain silent on these senseless, unlawful killings and sly racism on another human being – based on what? Only their skin color."