Financial cloud looms over Raheem Sterling's charity foundation

At a press office in London, the name of 31‑year‑old England forward Raheem Sterling resurfaced in headlines, not for his recent arrest but for a probe into his own Raheem Sterling Foundation after The Telegraph revealed that mandatory financial filings have been missing for years.

The English newspaper reported that the Raheem Sterling Foundation is now under investigation by the British Charity Commission. "De Raheem Sterling Foundation ligt onder onderzoek van de Britse Charity Commission," the article quoted, confirming official scrutiny.

According to The Telegraph, the foundation has failed to submit the required annual accounts for more than two years, with one filing dated 30 June 2023 now 814 days overdue. "De naam van Raheem Sterling prijkt opnieuw in de Engelse krantenkoppen," the source noted, underscoring the renewed media focus.

After several reminders and a final warning, regulators have placed the charity in a ‘double defaulter class inquiry’, examining possible mismanagement or serious governance failures. The inquiry seeks to determine whether the foundation has breached legal obligations.

Former Manchester City director Chris Bird, who serves as the foundation’s CEO, accepted responsibility for the administrative backlog, noting that since its 2021 launch only one set of accounts has been filed. Bird said the charity’s activities continue, there is “nothing to hide”, and the offline website is due to a technical problem. Sterling declined to comment on the matter.

The Raheem Sterling Foundation was established in 2021 by Sterling and his mother Nadine Clarke, aiming to support young people in Jamaica, the United Kingdom and other countries through education, social mobility and personal development.

Since his contract with Feyenoord expired in mid‑July, the Englishman remains unattached, having made eight official appearances for the Rotterdam club and recorded a single assist.