Southgate tries to draw line under Sterling affair

Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - England Media Day - St. George's Park, Burton upon Trent, Britain - November 12, 2019 England manager Gareth Southgate during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

BURTON ON TRENT, England (Reuters) - England manager Gareth Southgate attempted to draw a line under the altercation between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez saying he took ultimate responsibility for the decision to drop Footballer of the Year Sterling.

Yet the England manager, who has made much of the unity and team spirit inside his camp since he took charge in 2016, said he was concerned about the leaking of information to the media and faced criticism from Rio Ferdinand for going public over the incident.