The Conversation (0)
Sinead Butler
Jul 09, 2021
A petition has been launched to have London renamed to “Sterlingrad” if England win the Euro 2020 tournament on Sunday.
It was launched yesterday on Change.org and already has over 1,000 signatures in support of the name change.
Craig Salmon who started the petition to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan explained why he’s requesting the rename:
“To honour Raheem Sterling and the success of the England football team since they adopted Marxism.”
He’s referring to the controversy surrounding the England squad taking the knee before each match in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter.
The gesture was criticised by the likes of Nigel Farage and Laurence Fox - with both of them bizarrely labelling them as “Marxists.”
Gareth Southgate doesn't seem to understand that the BLM movement is not only Marxist but divisive too. England f… https://t.co/lkGSdx1S1k— Nigel Farage (@Nigel Farage) 1622984499
If you don’t boo a bunch of spoiled millionaire ball chasers taking the knee to a Marxist cult whose stated aim is… https://t.co/C5VVqn27pK— Laurence Fox ✝️ (@Laurence Fox ✝️) 1622984743
Calls to change the capital’s name to “Sterlingrad” is in reference to the Battle of Stalingard during the Second World War between 1942-3.
The city was changed from Tsaritsyn to Stalingrad in 1925, in honour of Joseph Stalin - the General Secretary of the Communist Party.
Germany and its allies fought the Soviet Union for control of Stalingrad (now Volgograd), a city in Southern Russia.
With over 2 million casualties estimated, it’s described as one of the most bloodiest battles in the history of warfare, according to History.com.
Ultimately, the battle resulted in a victory for the Soviet Union.
Since its creation, the petition has been widely shared online, as the news about it was shared on Twitter.
The Communist Party of Britain backed the calls to rename London “Sterlingrad.”
Sign the petition to Rename “London” “Sterlingrad” if England win the euros. To honour Raheem Sterling and the su… https://t.co/dtZ251waDu— Communist Party ☭ (@Communist Party ☭) 1625772868
Some people are more than happy to back the cause.
Backing the rename London Sterlingrad petition if only to guarantee making football Twitter cry— Jamie Cooper (@Jamie Cooper) 1625811736
The rename London to “Sterlingrad” is the only good petition ever— texas red (@texas red) 1625793343
It’s what Karl Marx would’ve wanted. Rename London "Sterlingrad" if England win the euros. - Sign the Petition!… https://t.co/o3nlVo3ank— drooan ☭ (@drooan ☭) 1625772837
could be the most important petition you’ll ever sign so get on it……. Sadiq Khan: Rename "London" "Sterlingrad" if… https://t.co/4cQGlP0QsG— tabbie (@tabbie) 1625775984
Country’s gone mad .. and I’m all for it https://t.co/QpXlfQlLpY— Tyron Lee (@Tyron Lee) 1625772824
Though some weren’t so impressed with the potential name change and made their feelings known about it.
@NewsForAllUK @PoliticsForAlI https://t.co/tZ2g85IMpN— Conscious Caracal 🇿🇦 (@Conscious Caracal 🇿🇦) 1625773032
@NewsForAllUK Same type of people who think Boaty McBoatface was funny and call people Cockwombles— Jord H (@Jord H) 1625784735
Let’s not do this. https://t.co/2kjt0Gh5wg— AFCVegan (@AFCVegan) 1625772528
https://t.co/1FcxUMQj5m https://t.co/mFfenGDCL4— Mark Lacey (@Mark Lacey) 1625781355
Some argued that Sterling might feel uncomfortable with people associating him with Stalin and a battle that resulted in millions of deaths on both sides.
Joke or not, I can't imagine Sterling would want his name being linked to somebody who killed millions of people. #Sterlingrad— Middleton 1878 💙 (@Middleton 1878 💙) 1625807776
While others saw the funny side to the suggestion.
This is genuinely funny and a few head will explode believing it is true. This must be shared! #Sterlingrad… https://t.co/zKcKsxWTgA— Jack Reynard (@Jack Reynard) 1625805203
wheezing with laughter https://t.co/oC9tXFmU3D— Ewanescence (@Ewanescence) 1625756184
Screaming https://t.co/vMiv7b51l7— Nadine Batchelor-Hunt (@Nadine Batchelor-Hunt) 1625772432
https://t.co/DnfB4qbar8 https://t.co/FKVFEcU4zQ— Dylan🇦🇺🇳🇴 (@Dylan🇦🇺🇳🇴) 1625786061
😂😂🤣nah this is hilarious, people have just completely ignored the historical context https://t.co/CXHvQF86wb— Tre Santino (@Tre Santino) 1625818759
England plays Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday at Wembley Stadium, its the first time in 55 years that the England men’s football team has reached a tournament final.