Liverpool’s Luis Suarez Found Guilty By FA Of Racially Abusing Patrice Evra, Gets Eight-Match Ban

Alan Duffy

20th, December 2011

22 Comments

By Alan Duffy

It’s a saga which has stoked the flames of well, hatred, between the red half of Liverpool and the red half of Manchester, but now, finally, The FA has passed judgement on Luis Suarez, with the Uruguayan receiving a very hefty eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra.

As well as missing those eight games, Suarez has also been dealt a £40,000 fine which sounds rather less harsh on the millionaire footballer. Still, the decision by The FA hit the Liverpool star hard won’t go down too well on Merseyside.

Indeed, Liverpool FC have already released the following statement which is rather damning of The FA’s decision.

“We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone. No-one else on the field of play – including Evra’s own Manchester United teammates and all the match officials – heard the alleged conversation between the two players in a crowded Kop goalmouth.

“It appears to us that the FA were determined to bring charges against Luis Suarez, even before interviewing him at the beginning of November.

“Nothing we have heard in the course of the hearing has changed our view that Luis Suarez is innocent of the charges brought against him and we will provide Luis with whatever support he now needs to clear his name.

“Evra admitted himself in his evidence to insulting Luis Suarez in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. Luis, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult.

The player himself also Tweeted: “Today is a very difficult and painful day for me and my family. Thanks for all the support.”

The ban and fine are suspended until the outcome of any appeal from Liverpool. This story isn’t over just yet.

Posted in Liverpool, Man Utd

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22 Comments

  1. emc88 says:

    and john terry continues to scour the land in search of teammates wives

  2. Jay says:

    8 games without a Suarez goal should be normal by now.

    He’s too ambitious for Liverpool anyhow.

  3. SL says:

    Well this now means Terrys ban has to be in double figures if they just accepted Evras word.

    Either that or the FA will prove themselves massive hypocrites yet again.

  4. jaysus says:

    the fa has the audacity to appeal rooney’s ban for deliberate kicking an opponent, then delivers a ban of this magnitude. it’s just ludicrous, especially if lfc’s statement that this is all based on evra’s testimony alone is true. the fa once again finds itself in the precarious position of having its head stuck up its own arse.

  5. Luke says:

    Here’s a good article that was written on the beeb before the charge was bought down. It discusses (what is now a missed opportunity) how the FA could’ve handled this well

  6. DJ says:

    The FA won’t have a problem banning Terry because it will only affect Chelsea rather than England. If he Suarez did what he did then he deserves this ban but the FA haven’t painted themselves in glory in the way they have handled this.

  7. WildScotsman6 says:

    Racial abuse isn’t acceptable in any light.. but know when you watch a match and the ref lets some massive challenge go, but then cards someone for nothing… I feel a bit like that with the FA… not very consistent. Still, Terry is prolly worried right now, haha.

  8. Mr Sensible says:

    Racist abuse = 8 game ban.

    Missing a drugs test yet still getting one done to prove they had not taken any drugs = 8 month ban.

    Good one FA.

  9. Mr Sensible says:

    I like how Liverpool failed to mention in their statement how Suarez himself admitted (not at the start mind you) that he used the word Negrito.

    It was quite a big reason the verdict was given I’d say.

    I do feel however that 8 games and a 40 grand fine really isn’t the punishment for racist abuse, I’m a United fan (as you can probably tell) and even if a United player had been found guilty I would expect and want at least a 6 month ban or more. The FA are basically saying racist abuse is as bad as a couple of bad red card challenges, but then the FA are beyond a joke aren’t they.

  10. Dr. Roberts says:

    There’s still no proof of what Terry did, that’s the problem. With Liverpool and Suarez both admitting that the term ‘Negro’ was used, that was essentially that. They wouldn’t have needed Evra’s account, because they signed their own death warrant by admitting it. With Terry on the other hand, he denies it. Ferdinand said he never heard it, and the ‘video evidence’ is inconclusive. There’s nothing to be held against Terry, and short of Ferdinand retracting his statement and saying ‘actually yeah, he did call me a black cunt’, he most likely won’t be charged.

    Feel free to correct me on any evidence that crops up though, as I might be wrong. I must admit I haven’t been following the Terry saga as much as this one.

  11. Michael_D says:

    I’m not condoning racist chants or slurs, but I’m not sure if that’s really the case here. Its not uncommon in Spanish (and probably other cultures as well) to refer to people by the color of their skin or physical appearance: moreno(a), guero(a), negrito(a) without it having an explicit racist context. By his admission it probably was just him saying that: there are more explicit ways of using a racial slur in Spanish and had he intended that he would’ve said. Again, he shouldn’t use that term but at the same time I understand how it would’ve been used. It just seems that the FA took it and ran 10 miles with it. It’s definitely a “statement” punishment but I’d be shocked if he sat out more than 2 games, as I’m positive the FA knows its more quite literally a cultural misunderstanding that they’re taking the opportunity to use to “show the world” how the FA deals with racism.

    Oh aside from Suarez’ admission the fact that they simply took Evra’s word (who, in any other type of inquiry would be a suspicious character having previously embellished charges in a separate case) as the basis for the punishment tells you all you need to know.

    /dismissive wanking
    //For what its worth, I’m actually a Chelsea supporter
    ///Oh, the FA is as useful as nipples on a bull

  12. Eddie says:

    Is Luis Suarez a racist? No. Is he ignorant? Yes.

  13. JJ says:

    So the FA can make a determination of racial abuse made in Spanish, based on the say so of a Frenchman. If that’s the case, how long is the referee going to be banned for? After all according to Evra, the only reason he got a yellow card is because he is Black. Clearly racist.

  14. JJ says:

    The biggest joke is that the FA think that waving anti-racist flags, wearing anti-racist T-shirts, and handing out 8 game bans for a verbal spat between players is actually doing something to fight racism.

  15. Phiwe says:

    So this ban is based on Evra’s word? That’s f*cking ridiculous! The ref’s didn’t hear it, no one on the stands heard it but just because Evra said it’s true that means the FA will go round handing out bans. Evra admitted that he also said something racist to Suarez.

    But the biggest joke is that John Terry, who’s subject to a police investigation and was caught on TV cameras shouting the words “F*cking black c*nt” is left alone. That’s rubbish

  16. Mr Sensible says:

    @Eddie

    But racism usually exists through ignorance.

    @Phiwe

    It’s not just based on Evra’s word though is it, Suarez admitted to saying it as well and from that the FA made their decision.

    It all boils down to context, in a heated game players will always try to gain the upper hand by antagonising the opponents, Suarez chose to use the word Negrito, it was used for the soul purpose to annoy Evra because Suarez obviously knew it would, and why would he know that, because it is an insult based purely on the colour of a person’s skin which is called racism.

  17. McRico says:

    @mr sensible

    With ya all the way. Suarez admitted a while back that he said “Negrito”. On top of this however he also admitted during the case that he called him Negro at least once. “Por Favor Negro” to be exact.

    He has held this back until now and this is what done him. Evra only ever said that is was this in an argumental context which annoyed him. If Suarez said it once he said it 10 times as far as the FA are concerned.

    To be fair 8 games is getting off lightly. He will be on 11 with his pending middle finger case and potentially 14/15 if their potential appeal fails. Not a year ago he was banned for 7 games for biting a players ear. He didn’t get the backing he wanted from Ajax hince Liverpool signed him.

    Liverpool should be sanctioned for failing to control their players and also for the ridiculous statement the release further scapegoating the victim. The social media sites are now flooded with fans calling for Evra’s blood – SICK!

    Liverpool, as a club, disgust me with their handling of this affair. I’m sure the World Media are on the side of the victim.

    #KICKOUTRACISM

  18. kenji says:

    no evidence, words can charged people! what an idiot FA controlled by idiot SAF. SAF must be happy now cause FA is his puppet! i look down on useless FA. go to hell.

  19. McRico says:

    @kenji

    who needs evidence when you have a confession.

    Suarez has finally admitted to calling Evra a “Negro”

  20. CFC_Jay says:

    Suarez Grandfather is black, so that makes him mixed race. He plays for Uruguay who are a very mixed race culture, and he formerly played for Ajax of Amsterdam, notoriously multi- Cultural!!! im not saying he’s an angel (he did once do what Tyson did to Holyfield) but this whole “Negro” slur has been bought way out of context. Evra knows this but is far too arrogant (and we all know how arrogant and up his own backside he is) to admitt this. An incredible discision for the FA to make based on the actual facts presented and i fully expect Liverpool to appeal against this.

    For all those John Terry haters out there, and by the sound of it, its anyone who doesnt support Chelsea…………If you’ve seen this “incriminating” footage of him calling Ferdinand a “Black C***”, then you would have spotted that at the begining you see him mouth the words “No I….” and that at the end of the sentence he says, “you knob-end/head”. Now anyone with a grasp of the english language would know that a sentence like that wouldnt happen……”you f*****g black c*** you knob-end/head”, it just doesnt make sense. If someone was being racist the sentence would have ended with the word C***! Is it more likely that he said….”no i didnt call him a F******g black C***, you knob-head/end” (the knob being the idiot that asked the question in the first place).

    I know off the pitch John Terry has been a complete plank, but he’s not a racist plank so come on, innocent until proven guilty…!!

  21. Jay says:

    Saurez ya big racist! Kick it out? Na, just give him 8 games, nice wee chirstmas break!

    Tell me this, what if a fan gets found guilty of making a racist comment? Life ban!

    What if i made a racist comment at my place of work? Sacked!

    Liverpool blindly standing by a GUILTY player!

    8 games, not enough!

  22. Tom Jones says:

    A disgrace. Just common Spanish banter. Grow up FA for fucks sake.

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