Evra accuses Suarez of racism

[Chazza]

liam_tomkins Liam Tomkins
Luis Suarez has reported to training despite #LFC offering him a week off to spend time with his family.
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Reece]

Top guy

[Shaggy]

Mick Dennis was a right cunt this morning. Apparently there is video evidence that "proves" LS is "a racist." Not according to the FA report there isnt but hey ho.

It's all rather annoying that when we attempt to sensibly debate this as LFC fans we get accused of tribalism and blind loyalty etc (see Shaggy v Barry Gelndinning on Twitter last night) yet when they get a fact obviously wrong they fail to acknowledge it or even retract their point. Ollie Holt of the Mirror posted this yesterday:



to which I responded



because Holt CLEARLY hasn't read the FA report properly. Any response from him? None at all. It's pathetic really and I must say not unexpected.

The media in this country is a sham.

They're all so ****ing annoying, so blind, so sanctimonious and so ****ing arrogant.

[Lee]

liam_tomkins Liam Tomkins
Luis Suarez has reported to training despite #LFC offering him a week off to spend time with his family.
1 minute ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Don't think he'll be leaving us for a while to be honest.

[Chris]

IT’S a decision which has divided Liverpool FC supporters.

Some have welcomed the news that LFC have drawn a line under the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra saga by opting not to launch an appeal.

But for others there’s frustration that Liverpool FC opted to give up the fight – despite their unwavering belief in the striker’s innocence.

What’s clear is that while Liverpool FC may have reluctantly accepted the verdict and the punishment, they won’t ever accept the process by which Luis Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing Evra and hit with an eight-match ban.

They insist if this had been a criminal matter it would never have reached court because the independent regulatory commission didn’t come across a shred of evidence to back up Evra’s claims.

On the ‘balance of probabilities’ rather than ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ the three-man panel which was appointed by the FA believed the Manchester United defender on just about every bone of contention. The Reds insist the burden of proof for such a serious charge should be considerably higher.

Having digested the commission’s 115-page report into the judgement, Anfield officials believe it’s anything but fair and balanced. They say that countless pieces of evidence they put forward failed to earn a mention.

Principal owner John Henry, who has been heavily involved in the Reds’ handling of the dispute throughout, is known to be furious at the way the club and the player have been treated.

The panel were damning of Suarez whose evidence they described as “unreliable” and “inconsistent”. Much is made of the fact he changed his version of events but Liverpool claim it’s hardly a surprise that Suarez couldn’t remember exactly what was said and when it was muttered during a frenetic contest with their arch rivals.

Evra was interviewed on a number of occasions prior to the hearing and allowed to finalise his statement with the assistance of the video footage. Suarez was denied that luxury when he was spoken to at Melwood. The striker’s recollections when he had the benefit of the video were unsurprisingly slightly different.

There’s also anger at the report’s focus on Suarez’s pinch on Evra’s arm, despite the Manchester United defender’s admission that he wasn’t even aware of it.

The Reds say inconsistencies in Evra’s evidence aren’t properly explained by the commission.

Initially, Evra accused Suarez of calling him ‘n*****’ then said it was ‘negro’ . He told French TV he had been abused 10 times and told Alex Ferguson it was five. Yet the commission concluded Suarez had abused him seven times.

Liverpool remain baffled that Evra has escaped any form of FA charge himself, despite admitting he started the confrontation with a hugely offensive remark towards Suarez in Spanish and then threatened to punch him.

If the Reds feel so hard done by then it begs the question, why not appeal? The answer is their lack of faith in the process

Although another commission would consist of a new three-man panel they would still be appointed by the FA and would only be able to examine the same evidence.

It would have dragged on for months, increasing the damage not only to Suarez but also the club. Any reduction in the ban would have been a hollow victory.

Undoubtedly, Liverpool could have handled his unseemly saga better but they insist if they’re guilty of anything it’s naivety.

From the moment the allegations were put to Suarez after the game on October 15, he immediately admitted using the word ‘negro’ on one occasion.

Responding to an attack on his nationality (don’t touch me, South American), he said: “por que, negro?” (why, black?). Rightly or wrongly, Suarez believed he had nothing to hide.

Damien Comolli told referee Andre Marriner something had been lost in translation with Suarez having explained it was a friendly term which is used in South America. Suarez has said that United’s own South American players refer to Evra by the same nickname.

In hindsight the Reds believe they should have said nothing. That Suarez’s honesty ultimately gave the FA something to cling on to as they built a case.

The next time an official comes knocking on the Anfield dressing room door with an allegation they will be asked to stick it in the post.

Liverpool must now move on. The considerable damage that has been done to the club’s image will take time to fix.

Suarez has apologised and vowed to never again mutter that word in English society.

But for the Reds the whole sorry saga has left a bitter taste in the mouth

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/01/05/james-pearce-liverpool-fc-will-have-learnt-luis-suarez-racism-saga-lessons-now-it-s-time-to-move-on-and-fix-the-damage-100252-30062930/

[Vermilion]

The above pretty much nailed how i think this whole thing has gone, and the reasons for the end result we now have.

Shame on the FA.

[The Birdman]

We should force Suarez to take a week to 10 days off and have a holiday with his family, get away and relax then come back refreshed.
Luis will not benefit 1 bit from training when he can't play.

[Vermilion]

We should force Suarez to take a week to 10 days off and have a holiday with his family, get away and relax then come back refreshed.
Luis will not benefit 1 bit from training when he can't play.

Would be nice, but best he stays close to lfc imo just now.

[Alex]

I suppose he is going to be fresh for the run in.

[Chris]

We should force Suarez to take a week to 10 days off and have a holiday with his family, get away and relax then come back refreshed.
Luis will not benefit 1 bit from training when he can't play.

To be fair, if he wants to stay with the team then he should be allowed to.

[McDermotX]

Sent him out on loan to the continent for a month.

[Darkon]

what good would that do

[Red_Polo]

None that I can see, not least because I think I'm right in saying he'd still be suspended for 8 games when he got back from the loan.

[Darkon]

Exactly what I was thinking...

[Exiled_red]

I'm surprised he hasn't taken a week or so off to be with his family. He could probably do with a break having played in the Copa America in the summer and come back to start the season with us more or less straight away. Add to that what must have been a mentally exhausting couple of months for him. I'd have thought some time off would have done him the world of good.

That said it's in some ways good that he hasn't left given the opportunity him wanting to be around the club and his team mates is a good thing for us IMO