CNN —
English soccer star Raheem Sterling is returning home from the World Cup in Qatar after gunmen broke into his home while his family was inside, a person with knowledge of the situation told CNN.
The incident happened on Saturday night, the person told CNN, and Sterling is said to have been “shaken” and “concerned” for the well-being of his children after the burglary.
There is an opportunity for Sterling to return to Qatar if the circumstances are right, the person told CNN, but added that he is “focused on being home and supporting his family now”.
England meets France in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.
In a statement to CNN, Surrey Police said they are currently investigating a report of a break-in at an address in Oxshott, Leatherhead.
“Police were contacted just before 9pm on Saturday December 3 after residents of the property returned home to find that a number of items, including jewelry and watches, had been stolen,” a spokesman said Surrey Police to CNN.
“Investigations to clarify the circumstances are underway and the investigation is ongoing.
“There was no threat of violence involved as the items were later discovered stolen. Investigations into the circumstances are ongoing.”
Sterling missed England’s 3-0 win over Senegal on Sunday. England manager Gareth Southgate later said the 27-year-old was dealing with a “family matter”.
“I spent a lot of time with Raheem this morning,” Southgate told reporters on Sunday.
“You have days where events happen and you have to deal with that. He’s on his way home. Of course, we make sure that he is given space and privacy, so we don’t want to go into too much detail.
“Obviously it’s not ideal for the group before a big game, but it fades into insignificance, the individual is more important than the group in those moments.”
CNN has reached out to the Football Association of England for comment.
The Chelsea forward featured in England’s first two games in the group stage of the World Cup, scoring in the team’s 6-2 win over Iran.