Anti-racism campaigners urge FA to ban Luis Suarez & insist striker should apologise directly to Patrice Evra

EXCLUSIVE
By Rob Stewart

Anti-racism campaigners want Liverpool striker Luis Suarez to personally apologise to Patrice Evra for snubbing the Manchester United defender and have called for the Football Association to ban the Uruguayan for his actions on Saturday.

Show Racism the Red Card have called on Suarez to say sorry to Evra after the Anfield star issued an official apology through his club for his failure to shake Evra’s outstretched hand ahead of the Liverpool’s match with United last Saturday.

SRTRC chief executive Ged Grebby had hoped a public show of reconciliation would end the feud between the pair that was sparked by Suarez allegedly racially abusing Evra last October, which earned the Reds player an eight-match ban.

Now Grebby wants Suarez to make amends with an apology to Evra but wants the FA to intervene by banning the player for his actions at Old Trafford.

“The apology is a good start but there is one person that Luis Suarez has not said sorry to in his official statement which I have read on the Liverpool Football Club website and that is Patrice Evra,” Grebby told Goal.com.

“One thing I think he needs to do now is make a full apology and get it to Patrice Evra – never mind just saying sorry for letting down Liverpool Football Club.

“It was Patrice Evra who put his hand out to shake his hand in what would have been a powerful statement and I think Luis Suarez needs to apologise for snubbing him.”

“He again seems to miss the point because it is Patrice Evra who deserves the apology. He is saying sorry Liverpool Football Club for letting them down which he has done and that is a start but why doesn’t it more clear and make the apology to Patrice Evra.

“I have got no doubts whatsoever that him and Liverpool Football Club do want to move on but what better way would there have been than Luis Suarez shaking the hand of Patrice Evra?

“I hope he realises what a huge mistake he has made but there is the old saying that actions speak louder than words and he had the opportunity through his actions to really make sure they spoke louder than his words.”

"I felt very angry when I saw him refuse to shake Patrice Evra’s hand and I know a lot of current and former footballers feel the same" - Ged Grebby

Grebby wants to English game’s governing body to intervene and punish Suarez for his conduct ahead of United’s 2-1 win over their arch-rivals.

“I do know what the FA are saying but presumably if you have a pre-match handshake as a show of respect by not shaking an opponent’s hand you are showing disrespect and presumably the FA will act,” said Tyneside-based Grebby.

“The FA need to take action. You can’t have a respect handshake and then do what he did and no have FA action.

“It is a respect handshake. He didn’t do it, so what is the penalty? It sets a really bad precedent. We could face this at every game now.

“A three-game ban would be about right in this particular case. Don’t forget, he has been told in that FA report, any more racist abuse and there will be a much longer ban.

"In terms of this episode it is obviously no racist abuse but it is antagonising another situation so I think a three-game ban would be appropriate.”

Grebby also wants Suarez to be educated on anti-racism issues.

“I felt very angry when I saw him refuse to shake Patrice Evra’s hand and I know a lot of current and former footballers feel the same but I think everyone would condemn what he did,” Grebby continued.

“People who have supported him through thick and thin feel very let down by what he did. Kenny Dalglish must have been fuming. I would be very surprised if the vast majority of Liverpool fans could support his actions.

“The two characters were really exposed. Evra showed dignity. He was the victim but he put the hand out. There was a real need to put this behind us but just because of the two individuals concerned but because Suarez just doesn’t get the whole thing.

“He doesn’t realise how bad racism was in the English game in the 70s, 80s and early 90s and how much role models have played a key part in fighting racism within the sport. His unwillingness to shake hands with Evra says a lot about him.

“But he needs an education programme as well. We are doing one with young players and the PFA do it as well with academy players.  He needs to know the importance of his own role because he doesn’t seem to know that.

"His actions at Old Trafford were scandalous and maybe with the reaction that it has had, I would hope that he appreciates the error of his ways.”