|
|
Luis Suarez & Liverpool hierachy urged to say sorry to Manchester United defender Patrice Evra by anti-racism campaigners
Anfield club's decision to accept Uruguayan's eight-match ban welcomed by Show Racism the Red Card, who believe punishment sends out powerful message to football as a whole
4 Jan 2012 08:42:00
By Rob Stewart
Getty Images
EXCLUSIVE
By Rob Stewart
The Liverpool top brass and Luis Suarez have been urged to apologise to Patrice Evra by anti-racism campaigners who have welcomed the club’s decision to accept the eight-game ban handed out to the Uruguayan international for racially abusing the Manchester United defender.
Show Racism the Red Card officials have called on the club and the striker to say sorry to the French left-back after Liverpool decided not to fight the ban and a £40,000 fine handed to Suarez by the Football Association for his racist remarks to Evra during United’s visit to Anfield last October.
“An apology would certainly help things because hen people do apologise it certainly moves things on,” Show Racism the Red Card chief executive Ged Grebby told Goal.com.
“I think that it would help the situation no end if he accepted that he had done wrong and personally apologised to Patrice Evra. If there was an element to this that he did understand the language differences then the easiest thing to do would have been to apologise.
“I think that Liverpool Football Club owe Patrice Evra an apology. They raised this issue about him having previous over the Chelsea incident when, if you look at that, it was two members of Manchester United's staff that reported it. It was a legitimate incident. It wasn’t a red herring.”
That was a reference to the revelation that Dalglish spoke to the match referee Andre Marriner following the players’ altercation and said "hasn't he done this before?".
That was perceived to refer to Evra complaining about an alleged racist comment made by a groundsman following a match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool may have accepted Suarez’s punishment but remain defiant over the incident and have not shown any sign of contrition, but Tyneside-based Grebby is pleased that the club have decided not to contest his suspension that kicked in just before the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.
“It is a sensible decision and hopefully Liverpool can now move on and reinforce the anti-racist message which is something they have always done year in, year out with our campaign and also with Kick it Out,” Grebby added.
“We will certainly be looking forward to our event at Anfield this year and I am sure the club will engage in a number of anti-racist initiatives in the course of 2012.
“The professional level has been key to our campaign and has shown the role model status of footballers. Things can move forward but things can move backwards as well and this case had the potential to send things back.
“That is why I am very glad that Liverpool have accepted what I think is a thorough review of the events at Anfield and something that has enabled the FA to emerge with a lot of credit.”
Grebby praised the FA for sending out a powerful message on racism.
“The FA have sent out a really strong message to say that it is not acceptable in the game for there to be any kind of abuse where you are using people’s skin colour, religion or culture,” Grebby continued.
“What I thought was very interesting about the document is that they could have imposed a bigger ban and while I think they got it about right.”
Within the document think there also is a warning that if there are two more offences then there would be a permanent ban from English football for Suarez.
“That is not just a very strong message to Liverpool Football Club but a message to anyone who thinks they can get away with racism within the game,” Grebby added.
Follow Rob Stewart on
By Rob Stewart
The Liverpool top brass and Luis Suarez have been urged to apologise to Patrice Evra by anti-racism campaigners who have welcomed the club’s decision to accept the eight-game ban handed out to the Uruguayan international for racially abusing the Manchester United defender.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
Show Racism the Red Card officials have called on the club and the striker to say sorry to the French left-back after Liverpool decided not to fight the ban and a £40,000 fine handed to Suarez by the Football Association for his racist remarks to Evra during United’s visit to Anfield last October.
“An apology would certainly help things because hen people do apologise it certainly moves things on,” Show Racism the Red Card chief executive Ged Grebby told Goal.com.
“I think that it would help the situation no end if he accepted that he had done wrong and personally apologised to Patrice Evra. If there was an element to this that he did understand the language differences then the easiest thing to do would have been to apologise.
“I think that Liverpool Football Club owe Patrice Evra an apology. They raised this issue about him having previous over the Chelsea incident when, if you look at that, it was two members of Manchester United's staff that reported it. It was a legitimate incident. It wasn’t a red herring.”
That was a reference to the revelation that Dalglish spoke to the match referee Andre Marriner following the players’ altercation and said "hasn't he done this before?".
That was perceived to refer to Evra complaining about an alleged racist comment made by a groundsman following a match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Sorry state | Suarez has been told to apologise to Evra over offensive remarks
Liverpool may have accepted Suarez’s punishment but remain defiant over the incident and have not shown any sign of contrition, but Tyneside-based Grebby is pleased that the club have decided not to contest his suspension that kicked in just before the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City.
“It is a sensible decision and hopefully Liverpool can now move on and reinforce the anti-racist message which is something they have always done year in, year out with our campaign and also with Kick it Out,” Grebby added.
“We will certainly be looking forward to our event at Anfield this year and I am sure the club will engage in a number of anti-racist initiatives in the course of 2012.
“The professional level has been key to our campaign and has shown the role model status of footballers. Things can move forward but things can move backwards as well and this case had the potential to send things back.
“That is why I am very glad that Liverpool have accepted what I think is a thorough review of the events at Anfield and something that has enabled the FA to emerge with a lot of credit.”
Grebby praised the FA for sending out a powerful message on racism.
“The FA have sent out a really strong message to say that it is not acceptable in the game for there to be any kind of abuse where you are using people’s skin colour, religion or culture,” Grebby continued.
“What I thought was very interesting about the document is that they could have imposed a bigger ban and while I think they got it about right.”
Within the document think there also is a warning that if there are two more offences then there would be a permanent ban from English football for Suarez.
“That is not just a very strong message to Liverpool Football Club but a message to anyone who thinks they can get away with racism within the game,” Grebby added.
Follow Rob Stewart on
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
Inside Goal.Com
-
Welbeck convinces Hodgson he is the man to lead the line
England beat Norway 1-0 at Wembley, with the Manchester United man hitting an impressive winner to stake his claim for a starting spot at Euro 2012
-
How England player's chances were affected by Belgium victory
Ashley Young all but secured his place in the starting line-up against France while captain Steven Gerrard put a good shift in. Joe Hart, however, needs to remain focused
-
In Pictures: The best and worst kits at Euro 2012
The European Championship is just around the corner and Goal.com distinguishes between the trendy and the passe at the prestigious tournament
-
The five players Rodgers could sign to kick-start revolution
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Managerial merry-go-round keeps spinning as Lambert takes Villa job
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday
