Evra accuses Suarez of racism

[ashey]

Strangely enough all his team mates say that he claimed he was called black.

Im not sure if it has any significance but I've noticed that the four team mates he spoke to Nani, Hernandez, Anderson and Valencia, and who sent in written statements, were not on the pitch at the time of the incidents.

Seems strange that he should just speak to four guys who were sitting on the bench when it happened.

& all four speak Spanish and / or Portuguese....

[topscorer]

So where does the n word accusation come from? Is that what he originally claimed to the referee? Is that the word he used to Fergie?

What word did he claim with the French TV interview?

[Jack D Rips]

& all four speak Spanish and / or Portuguese....

He is fluent in English. Why didnt he say it to Ferdinand, Smalling, Evans, Rooney etc?

[The Birdman]

To be honest unreservedly backing down will make us look like a pile of cunts after the club and player statements and t shirts so I just cannot see that happening.
Personally I hope we take this as high as it possibly can go, **** the far reaching consequences of challenging the FA and the potential outcry i.e if we overturn it every club will look to do the same thing if they don't agree with the FA decision in their case.

This is a blatant display of abuse of power, it's all very well the FA setting themselves up in a self reglatury manor if their decisions are acceptable, this is just complete bull****.
Suarez annoyed Evra, maybe said something he shouldn't, definatley said something Evra didn't like and now an 8 game ban.

What next, Frank Lampard accusing Ya Ya Toure of calling him a Honky then Toure getting banned for 10 games because although there isn't any other evidence Frank was more convincing when speaking the queen's english during the hearing.

It's completely ****ing mental

[Havors]

Negro, as a word is used on a daily basis in Uruguay. I am sure he would easily pass the test

The things that really pisses me off with all of this, is the "South American" comment that kicked off the whole episode. Fergie 3 lackies, agreed this was provocative and the reason for the incident. They should have manned up and said there was no case to answer based on this racist provocation.

Your missing the point. Whether its used everyday in other countries is irrelevant. The question would be whether Suarez actually knew that it would cause offence in this country. Im not saying he did or he didnt, but the point is we will never know. A lie detector may well show he did mean offence.

The "balance of probability" for me lies with Suarez, because as you say its used a lot in his culture.

[G]

Yeah sick of all this **** now.

Not reading another thing about it until the club decides what its doing and lets us know.

Back to the footie for me

[Havors]

So far I have read 80 pages and to be honest they have made it look as though there is more unexplainable inconsistencies in Suarez's evidence than that of Evra.

But it seems to me that they have gone out of their way to highlight the Suarez inconsistencies but have gone the other to bring up plausible reasons for Evra's.

For example, evra claims that he told the ref during the match that he hd been called black, but in the ref's room claimed he had been called a n****r fives times, whilst on Canal TV he claimed that he had been abused ten times. The committee explain that by saying he was thinking of the Italian ( WTF) word "negre" which means n****r when in the refs room, and the the 10 times claim is a nuance of the French language. They also accept that he told the ref he had been called black was because he was uncomfortable using the word n****r.

Im totally in awe of Patrice Evra's linguistic talents. They guy seems fluent in English, French, Spanish, Italian.... amazing.

[Havors]

What next, Frank Lampard accusing Ya Ya Toure of calling him a Honky then Toure getting banned for 10 games because although there isn't any other evidence Frank was more convincing when speaking the queen's english during the hearing.

It's completely ****ing mental

Indeed!!

All it would take would be for 2 players from one team to say that they heard an opponent call one of them something racist and they can get him guaranteed 8 match ban and potentially ruin the players career/life.

Barmy. One persons testimony should not tip the balance of probability one way or the other, when there is no other evidence whatsoever. This should never have even gone before a panel.

[ashey]

He is fluent in English. Why didnt he say it to Ferdinand, Smalling, Evans, Rooney etc?

Spanish speakers giving "supporting evidence" against another Spanish speaker.
All helped Evra's claim in the eyes of the FA Panel.

[Daniel 7]

Suarez is out. No appeal. Suspension begins now.

[Shaggy]

The club will not appeal

[RedReet]

NO appeal.

Suarez out tonight.

[Reece]

Wow. Pretty shocked at that.

[Shaggy]

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/statement-from-liverpool-fc

It is our strongly held conviction that the Football Association and the panel it selected constructed a highly subjective case against Luis Suarez based on an accusation that was ultimately unsubstantiated.

The FA and the panel chose to consistently and methodically accept and embrace arguments leading to a set of conclusions that found Mr. Suarez to "probably" be guilty while in the same manner deciding to completely dismiss the testimony that countered their overall suppositions.

Mr. Evra was deemed to be credible in spite of admitting that he himself used insulting and threatening words towards Luis and that his initial charge as to the word used was somehow a mistake.

The facts in this case were that an accusation was made, a rebuttal was given and there was video of the match. The remaining facts came from testimony of people who did not corroborate any accusation made by Mr. Evra.

In its determination to prove its conclusions to the public through a clearly subjective 115-page document, the FA panel has damaged the reputation of one the Premier League's best players, deciding he should be punished and banned for perhaps a quarter of a season. This case has also provided a template in which a club's rival can bring about a significant ban for a top player without anything beyond an accusation.

Nevertheless, there are ultimately larger issues than whether or not Luis Suarez has been treated fairly by the Football Association in this matter. There are important points we want to make today that overshadow what has occurred during the past two months.

The issue of race in sports, as in other industries, has a very poor history. Far too often, and in far too many countries, the issues of racism and discrimination have been covered over or ignored.

In America, where Liverpool ownership resides, there was a shameful bigotry that prevented black athletes from competing at the highest levels for decades.

English football has led the world in welcoming all nationalities and creeds into its Premier League and its leagues below, and Liverpool Football Club itself has been a leader in taking a progressive stance on issues of race and inclusion. The Luis Suarez case has to end so that the Premier League, the Football Association and the Club can continue the progress that has been made and will continue to be made and not risk a perception, at least by some, that would diminish our commitment on these issues.

Liverpool Football Club have supported Luis Suarez because we fundamentally do not believe that Luis on that day - or frankly any other - did or would engage in a racist act. Notably, his actions on and off the pitch with his teammates and in the community have demonstrated his belief that all athletes can play together and that the colour of a person's skin is irrelevant.

Continuing a fight for justice in this particular case beyond today would only obscure the fact that the Club wholeheartedly supports the efforts of the Football Association, the Football League and the Premier League to put an end to any form of racism in English football.

It is time to put the Luis Suarez matter to rest and for all of us, going forward, to work together to stamp out racism in every form both inside and outside the sport.

It is for this reason that we will not appeal the eight-game suspension of Luis Suarez.

[Fredo]

Gutted.