Evra accuses Suarez of racism

[TheElephantMan]

Some legal cunt on Sky News just put Suarez in with Norris and Dobson. ****ing hell.

it's to be expected I suppose, they're all racists aren't they?

[Shaggy]

Some legal cunt on Sky News just put Suarez in with Norris and Dobson. ****ing hell.

Sure you've seen it, but a load of Mancs on Twitter are gleefully re-tweeting a 'joke' along the lines of 'Liverpool players to wear t-shirts supporting Dobson and Norris'. That sort of **** is in such poor taste yet they're accusing us of all sorts.

[TheElephantMan]

The FA dont think he is a racist, but thats clearly not enough for the media.

I can't see how the FA could possibly think otherwise. They only stated that he isn't a racist to avoid being sued.

[Neil Young]

Some legal cunt on Sky News just put Suarez in with Norris and Dobson. ****ing hell.

It's a facile comparison of course. There is though a point to be made but probably not the one you saw on Sky.

The Lawrence case changed the way racism was seen and handled in this country. Not just the overt, violent racism of Norris and Dobson but also the more pernicious, systemic racism that blighted (and arguably still blights) many lives here and elsewhere. One result has been a greater awareness of racism and the desire to be seen not to tolerate it and to be seen to be doing something about it.

Clearly the former is an undeniably welcome development. The latter though can lead people who may or may not have pure intentions to become horribly sidetracked and misguided in applying anti-racist principles. That can mean any of us - it's important to be on one's guard about it.

I think it includes the FA, in what seems to be its simplistic and subjective view on the Suarez/Evra allegations. An understanding of racism has to be based on cultural relativism but this has become lost and a 'holier than thou' attitude has prevailed. As I said before, it's 'cultural absolutism' and it's inherently flawed and self-defeating.

[badpiggy]

Yeah. To be honest, I can see why we've gotten so defensive now, however I do feel we could have helped ourselves to have come out straight after the incident with an apology for any offence, and an explanation of how, from Suarez background, absolutely none was intended. That could have been combined with a rebutal that it was use frequently and in an offensive way. Seeing as Suarez admitted using the term "negro" that wouldn't have damaged his defence in any way, and might have calmed the situation down a bit.

I'm still of the opinion that Evra genuinely felt insulted by what he thought was being said to him. Whether he has then exaggerated his account is another matter, but it would have been sensible to have apologised for that perceived offence at the time.

I couldn't agree more. We've handled this so badly - we've come across as blinkered regarding racism, parochial and paranoid. We should have built up to this righteous paranoid huff (which is how it is being portrayed) and not started off with it. Simple apology at the start, explain a difference in language and culture lead to a misunderstanding and offer to have both players release a statement affirming both clubs strong opposition to racism in sport.

What we haven't seemed to realise is that an accusation of racism is nearly up there with an accusation of sexual harassment or other sexual crimes - difficult to prove depending on the atmosphere but it's PR dynamite that can ruin somebody innocent if not handled properly. What you ****in don't do is defend yourself by calling the accuser a slapper who was gagging for it/deserved it and suggest it's all a conspiracy against you. You go in humbly and give yourself some sort of high moral ground. Then if the whole thing was fabricated anyway you can amp it up as righteously as you want.

Did Kenny read this wrong? Did he underestimate the FA's appetite for appearing to be tough on racism? Was he blinkered by the parochial rivalry between ourselves and Utd? One way or another we saw the big picture here as being the world against Liverpool as usual when it wasn't - the big picture was how to deal with a racism accusation in a world confused by racism and a governing body with an agenda.

[BootRoom]

Id assume if he is found guilty then the FA will act. But if he is found innocent, then the FA cant really do anything.

What? If the CPS think there is enough evidence to get a "beyond reasonable doubt" criminal conviction, hence Terry being sent for trial, then there is certainly enough evidence for the FA to proceed with a "balance of probability" civil case.

[BootRoom]

This continuing media storm is exactly why we should have spilled all the beans in the Club statement; merely alluding to vital omissions is basically useless in combating this nonsense.

[Neil Young]

I couldn't agree more. We've handled this so badly - we've come across as blinkered regarding racism, parochial and paranoid. We should have built up to this righteous paranoid huff (which is how it is being portrayed) and not started off with it. Simple apology at the start, explain a difference in language and culture lead to a misunderstanding and offer to have both players release a statement affirming both clubs strong opposition to racism in sport.

What we haven't seemed to realise is that an accusation of racism is nearly up there with an accusation of sexual harassment or other sexual crimes - difficult to prove depending on the atmosphere but it's PR dynamite that can ruin somebody innocent if not handled properly. What you ****in don't do is defend yourself by calling the accuser a slapper who was gagging for it/deserved it and suggest it's all a conspiracy against you. You go in humbly and give yourself some sort of high moral ground. Then if the whole thing was fabricated anyway you can amp it up as righteously as you want.

Did Kenny read this wrong? Did he underestimate the FA's appetite for appearing to be tough on racism? Was he blinkered by the parochial rivalry between ourselves and Utd? One way or another we saw the big picture here as being the world against Liverpool as usual when it wasn't - the big picture was how to deal with a racism accusation in a world confused by racism and a governing body with an agenda.

I'm not sure I agree - maybe I just don't want to - but there's a lot of sense in what you say here.

[BootRoom]

I couldn't agree more. We've handled this so badly - we've come across as blinkered regarding racism, parochial and paranoid. We should have built up to this righteous paranoid huff (which is how it is being portrayed) and not started off with it. Simple apology at the start, explain a difference in language and culture lead to a misunderstanding and offer to have both players release a statement affirming both clubs strong opposition to racism in sport.

What we haven't seemed to realise is that an accusation of racism is nearly up there with an accusation of sexual harassment or other sexual crimes - difficult to prove depending on the atmosphere but it's PR dynamite that can ruin somebody innocent if not handled properly. What you ****in don't do is defend yourself by calling the accuser a slapper who was gagging for it/deserved it and suggest it's all a conspiracy against you. You go in humbly and give yourself some sort of high moral ground. Then if the whole thing was fabricated anyway you can amp it up as righteously as you want.

Did Kenny read this wrong? Did he underestimate the FA's appetite for appearing to be tough on racism? Was he blinkered by the parochial rivalry between ourselves and Utd? One way or another we saw the big picture here as being the world against Liverpool as usual when it wasn't - the big picture was how to deal with a racism accusation in a world confused by racism and a governing body with an agenda.

Bollocks. Evra claimed that he was abused 10 times and the report had it down as 7 times, and we are vehemently disputing this, so how could a simple aplology placate Evra when he's claiming that Suarez said stuff like "because I don't talk to blacks" and "ok, blackie, blackie, blackie"?

[Baracus]

Tony Evans now on Talksport discussing this

[Shaggy]

Tony Evans now on Talksport discussing this

**** him.

[paulg]

I'm saddened that LFC fans are so vigorously defending Suarez's hamfisted attempts to "explain" what he said. I very much doubt that, if his claim that he used a jokey or term of endearment is right, that he uses it to Glen Johnson or our other black players without so much as a "don't say that again".
This whole "explanation" and attempt to push this onto the FA leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
If an opposition player had said it to one of our players, would we defend them? Of course we wouldn't.

[Baracus]

**** him.

Blamed the Management of the Situation.

[Kenneth]

I'm saddened that LFC fans are so vigorously defending Suarez's hamfisted attempts to "explain" what he said. I very much doubt that, if his claim that he used a jokey or term of endearment is right, that he uses it to Glen Johnson or our other black players without so much as a "don't say that again".
This whole "explanation" and attempt to push this onto the FA leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
If an opposition player had said it to one of our players, would we defend them? Of course we wouldn't.

[wavydavy]

**** him.

All of what he's said is hindsight I know but he's right IMO. Shut the dressing room door,get your story straight,seek legal advice and then see you in court. Our course of action was amateurish.