I get there's controversy over the penalty, but to me the decision was pretty much spot on. They where terrified of Sterling all evening and rightly so. He's our most capable player more times then not and if you want to cut the chances short you have to push in on a player like that, but it comes ladened with risk in that it can be easily exploited by the opposing player. Sterling did just that. Did he go down easy? Of course he did, but that's football. Regardless, he was physically impeded by two opposing players in the box who didn't even seem to be going for the ball.
With regards bias, of course I'd have gone mental if it where switched! It's the semi final of a major tournament and I'm emotionally invested in my team winning. I'd have swore and cursed the ref to hell and back, but ultimately once the emotions had settled, I'd have come to the same conclusion. It's like Wrighty said, those sorts of falls are common place now and are often rewarded. Almost every player would take the same opportunity if it where offered to them I imagine.
