Suarez Banned and Charged

[Ricey]

Luis Suarez has been banned for 8 Premiership games and fined 40k for his alleged racist comment towards Patrice Evra.

 

[johnlattimerssponge]

Just seen the official statement from Liverpool and not sure I have ever seen such a responce expect this run a bit longer yet !
Liverpool Football Club is very surprised and disappointed with the decision of the Football Association Commission to find Luis Suarez guilty of the charges against him.

We look forward to the publication of the Commission's Judgment. We will study the detailed reasons of the Commission once they become available, but reserve our right to appeal or take any other course of action we feel appropriate with regards to this situation.

We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone when no-one else on the field of play - including Evra's own Manchester United teammates and all the match officials - heard the alleged conversation between the two players in a crowded Kop goalmouth while a corner kick was about to be taken.

The Club takes extremely seriously the fight against all forms of discrimination and has a long and successful track record in work relating to anti-racist activity and social inclusion. We remain committed to this ideal and equality for all, irrespective of a person's background.

LFC considers racism in any form to be unacceptable - without compromise. It is our strong held belief, having gone over the facts of the case, that Luis Suarez did not commit any racist act. It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations.

It is key to note that Patrice Evra himself in his written statement in this case said 'I don't think that Luis Suarez is racist'. The FA in their opening remarks accepted that Luis Suarez was not racist.

Luis himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was black. He has been personally involved since the 2010 World Cup in a charitable project which uses sport to encourage solidarity amongst people of different backgrounds with the central theme that the colour of a person's skin does not matter; they can all play together as a team.

He has played with black players and mixed with their families whilst with the Uruguay national side and was Captain at Ajax Amsterdam of a team with a proud multi-cultural profile, many of whom became good friends.

It seems incredible to us that a player of mixed heritage should be accused and found guilty in the way he has based on the evidence presented. We do not recognise the way in which Luis Suarez has been characterised.

It appears to us that the FA were determined to bring charges against Luis Suarez, even before interviewing him at the beginning of November. Nothing we have heard in the course of the hearing has changed our view that Luis Suarez is innocent of the charges brought against him and we will provide Luis with whatever support he now needs to clear his name.

We would also like to know when the FA intend to charge Patrice Evra with making abusive remarks to an opponent after he admitted himself in his evidence to insulting Luis Suarez in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. Luis, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

If you want to kick racism out of football then you have to kick the racists out of football.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I thought that Suarez admitted he was guilty because he called Evra a negro but didn't realise that term is deemed inappropriate in this country as its commonly used in Uruquay

 

[chapperzUK]

None of the details have been released yet, and possibly won't be until after the appeal has been heard. Think it is strange how Liverpool and the players have released statements and showed their support without even knowing the full facts themselves.

If it is true that Suarez called Evra that, then Liverpool will look rather foolish.

Also would like to point out, Suarez has been accused of making a racist comment, not being a racist, which nearly everyone doesn't seem to understand.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Also would like to point out, Suarez has been accused of making a racist comment, not being a racist, which nearly everyone doesn't seem to understand.

This is the problem though, too many people are accused of being racist on the basis of one (slightly racist) comment. The goal posts change so often that it's difficult to judge what is and isn't racist sometimes. Negro....black....are these not factual observations, particularly when lost in translation (as was probably the case with Suarez)? I must admit I find it difficult to remember whether "black" or "coloured" is deemed correct, it's all pretty ridiculous because it never seems to apply other than when it's a white person uttering the words.

 

[canveyshrimper]

This is the problem though, too many people are accused of being racist on the basis of one (slightly racist) comment. The goal posts change so often that it's difficult to judge what is and isn't racist sometimes. Negro....black....are these not factual observations, particularly when lost in translation (as was probably the case with Suarez)? I must admit I find it difficult to remember whether "black" or "coloured" is deemed correct, it's all pretty ridiculous because it never seems to apply other than when it's a white person uttering the words.

Alan Hansen has been in trouble this week for using the word "coloured", I may have missed something bucause that's the first I've heard that "coloured" causes offence.

Best stick to ethnically disadvantaged.

 

[chapperzUK]

This is the problem though, too many people are accused of being racist on the basis of one (slightly racist) comment. The goal posts change so often that it's difficult to judge what is and isn't racist sometimes. Negro....black....are these not factual observations, particularly when lost in translation (as was probably the case with Suarez)? I must admit I find it difficult to remember whether "black" or "coloured" is deemed correct, it's all pretty ridiculous because it never seems to apply other than when it's a white person uttering the words.

It has been said that Suarez called Evra a "Negrito", which is said in South America without anyone blinking and is not an offensive term, but could be easily taken as an offensive term depending on the context.

 

[McNasty]

I have no problem , as a politically correct civil servant , calling anyone what they want to be called but very few people are actually the colour black so why would anyone with a brown skin want to be called by a different skin colour to their own ?

I don't understand.