A couple of things:
Let us first distinguish the difference between a racist and racist abuse (also read racist comments). I don’t believe that Luis Suarez is a racist and there are enough people who would vouch quite comfortably for him, including the head of the PFA and possibly even Evra himself – I think there was something in his statement to the FA to that effect. However, just because one is not racist does not mean they cannot be guilty of delivering a racist comment.
Some of our readers here are making allusions to different cultures. That is all fine and dandy, except that the Premier League is played in England and all players who sign contracts with Football League and Premiership teams are given guidelines for footballing codes of conduct.
The FA need make no statement to FIFA (in response to Sepp Blatter’s remarks last month)
. It has consistently made football’s ability to tackle racism one of their top priorities for the last decade or so and it will continue to do so. Is Suarez being made an example of? Perhaps. But why else have a nationwide commitment to fighting social injustice if the wealthy are exempt? Players like Joey Barton, John Terry, Wayne Rooney, and Jonathan Woodgate in his early days are taken out to town by the media and by fans around the world because some of their actions on and off the pitch fall well short of exemplary. They served the punishments handed to them and the world (also read nation) knew that those particular actions were unacceptable and those that guilty of that kind of misconduct would serve a punishment.
Footballers in England should know (they have all been informed as part of the FA’s Kick It Out programme) that misconduct of the racial type is totally and completely unacceptable on or off the pitch. Suarez therefore has been handed his punishment. No where has anyone on the FA Committee from their official deliberation called Suarez a racist or implied such a comment.
Kenny Dalglish is well within his rights to defend Suarez. That is what we should expect from managers. They are there to protect their players to their best abilities, not to mention that he will lose one of his team’s most potent weapons during one of the busiest times of the season. While the team’s show of solidarity yesterday was sentimental and highly symbollic, I think that it was ill-advised. No one needs to be reminded that the entirety of Liverpool FC support Suarez. Most of us are hoping for the best for him too, regardless of how we think of him. Seeing a footballer sidelined for whatever reason is disheartening.
There comes a point however, when the authorities have to be respected. The eight ban game obviously sends a very compelling message: racism will not be tolerated in this game or this country. Is eight games too harsh? Perhaps, but what constitutes an appropriate ban? I look at the situation that John Terry finds himself in. He has been charged with racially abusing Ferdinand by the CPS with an FA investigation to follow. Will the FA spare him from prosecution? I should hope not. They should make an example out of him, the same way they surely are making an example out of Suarez. Until we find out more though, I do firmly support the idea that he should be suspended from the England captaincy until after his court date (even if he were to be found innocent)
One quick point about Evra: enough people, readers of Soccer Reviews included, especially prominent members of football’s elite (Gus Poyet, to note) have lashed out at Evra. Poyet himself mentioned that the Frenchman is “no saint.” Well, fair enough. It is hard for any of us to judge a footballer by what we see on the television or at the stadium. We don’t eat, train, or live with them. I can understand the Liverpool players’s statement from yesterday. They don’t believe Luis Suarez is a racist and neither do I. What Evra has pointed out by bringing this issue to the FA is a violation of a code of conduct that threatens to bring disunity and disharmony to the game.
Some of you are arguing that eight is excessive. Some of you are arguing that cultural differences should not be overlooked. Some of you are even suggesting that this is another of the FA’s secret plots to undermine Liverpool. If football is to make a stand against anything and use its power to unite people in the fight against injustice of whatever creed, then we have to make bold decisions and take action against those who do not abide by the rules.
Suarez has not been accused of being a racist – something that Dalglish and now Pepe Reina seem bent on perpetuating – he has been found guilty of using insulting terminology. There is a massive difference. For those that cite ignorance and his “brief” (how 12 months in a country is a brief period, I will never know) stay in England in Suarez’s defence, I guide you to comments from Clarke Carlisle of the PFA, Kick It Out and Show Racism the Red Card campaigns: “Ignorance is not an excuse.”
Was there any proof?the last artical about this said no one heard him said that:-?If there any,please tell me:D
FA puts double standard on JT’s case IMO
“If the glove don’t fit, you must aquit”. If there is no proof except he said she said, how can someone be found guilty. I understand and agree that the act is deplorable, however, there is no solid proof, just a man’s word against anothers. This sets a dangerous precedent, now anyone should be able to accuse anyone else and get them suspended, because if it doesn’t happend this way then the FA is picking favorites. Let’s wait for the proof before we judge is all I ask
Luis Suarez wasn’t, and isn’t, a racist. He did, unfortunately, make a mistake (according to the FA), which means he is liable to prosecution (again, according to the FA). If they truly believe he did it, then so be it and there’s nothing we can do about it. But to condemn him for 8 matches is a pathetic way of exercising their power over players and the decision needs to be amended.
I agree that players who r racist should be banned 8 match like that,only thing is,it needs proof.Ban a player just because another said so is completely ignorant.BTW,have you guys seen the clip on fb,the ajax vs az match,so immature
This is what i said last post, sort of what you saying now.
Suarez is probably not a racist person, living in Uruguay and all. But that does not mean he did not say anything to Evra. Lets face it, even liverpool fans have to admit Suarez is not the most pure hearted of players. His diving and cheating prove this. Racism most stop, especially in the date and time we are living in. But personally i think FA has not looked at this enough to put an 8 match banned on the guy! Especially since there was no real evidence… (and no Evra saying so is not real evidence!)
P.S I am black.
Knowing Suarez from his time at ajax, he’s always been a player that gave his all during a match. Sometimes to much, the world cup match against Uruguay for example, his hand ball or should i say team handball like act. But the best example is from a match he played against PSV. He litarally bit his opponent. This guy can’t control his actions during a match. I don’t think he is a racist but he needs to control himself better.
IMO i don’t think the players are being judged fairly as to who was using ‘racist terminology’ but rather weighing up the pros and cons if Suarez or Terry was found guilty or not
e.g.
If Suarez found guilty (imo):
-FA praised for not tolerating racism
-Terry found guilty
If Suarez not found guilty (imo):
-FA judged for being soft on players using ‘racist terminology’
-Terry found guilty
But imho, relating to Terry’s case i don’t think the England captain would be stupid enough to say something racist in front of a camera. Why did he only say it to Anton Ferdinand? Why was he handed the captain armband of England in the first place if he is ‘supposingly’ racist or is likely to use racist terminology?
theres no proof at all, just evra’s word against suarez.
so suarez got a 8 match ban for being accused of saying a racist remark. this is really retarded
Taylor Davidson: People. IT ISN’T EVRA’S WORD AGAINST SUAREZ.
Mr Suarez has confessed to using the term “negro/negrito” (yet to be confirmed which is which) to Mr Evra and his ONLY basis of argument is that in his culture, negrito is a term used with friends.
Me thinks that LFC and Kenny Dalglish have done nothing to help improve the situation. Perhaps a well-timed apology from Suarez, immediately after the accusation from Evra, stating that he meant no racist comments, and that in his culture it was perfectly acceptable to address each other as such all of this could have been avoided. He might have even be let off with a mere stern warning.
Unfortunately things panned out differently, and now we have this really really horrible situation. Throw in the fact that, by extension, its Man Utd v.s Liverpool, all logic goes out of the window and.
negro or negrito is not racist. Evra started it by calling him ‘sudaca’ which is south american the equivalent to the ENGLISH word nig*er or n*gro to a black person. EVRA MADE AN INTENDED RACIST STATEMENT suarez replied with a friendly word like ‘pal’ which evra found offensive but however the innocent one suarez id being charged. ps evra admitted to using the word however the honest Suarez denied hearing it. SO bassically evra insulted suarez with an evtremley racist remark. suarez not offended replied kindly. evra thought he was rcist aned got offended (eventhough he started it), told the fa admitting he started the fight, SUAREZ GETS CHARGED. get your facts right bro. intention vs ignorance. I guess ignorance is an excuse.