Liverpool FC: Luis Suarez apologises for his part in Patrice Evra race row
by James Pearce, Liverpool EchoJan 5 2012

LIVERPOOL FC striker Luis Suarez has apologised for any offence he caused by saying the word ‘negro’ to Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

The Uruguayan is serving an eight-match ban after the decision was taken not to appeal against the independent regulatory commission’s punishment.

However, Luis Suarez maintains he said ‘negro’ only once, rather than seven times as the FA appointed panel concluded, and the Liverpool FC forward insists it was a friendly term of address and not racial abuse.

“I admitted to the commission that I said a word in Spanish once, and only once and I told the panel members that I will not use it again on a football pitch in England,” Suarez said.

“I never, ever used this word in a derogatory way and if it offends anyone then I want to apologise for that.”

Liverpool may have accepted the verdict but they now intend to hold talks with the FA to voice their displeasure at the way the process was handled.

The club believe it was fundamentally flawed and want an inquiry to take place to ensure no other player suffers at the hands of the same system.

Suarez was found guilty without any evidence substantiating Evra’s allegations. The commission made their decision on the balance of probabilities, taking Evra’s word against Suarez’s.

But Liverpool believe with such a serious charge and the subsequent damage done to the striker’s reputation there should have been a higher burden of proof.

The Reds insist the commission’s 115-page report detailing the written reasons for the judgment is hopelessly one sided with key pieces of evidence they submitted ignored and inconsistencies in Evra’s testimony glossed over.

The feeling inside Anfield persists that the FA have sought to make an example out of Suarez in the wake of FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s ill-advised comments about combating racism.



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