The OFFICIAL Liverpool FC thread - RIP Diogo

[Bingo]

All I'll say about Suarez is that if Liverpool have any sense they'll not appeal this decision. The FA want to make an example of someone so they can demonstrate to anyone who asks how determined they are to be Hard On Racism, and who better than the foreigner with reputation for cheating - they'll be doubly delighted in Ghana - and cannibalism? There's no way they can be seen to step back from this lest they be accused of being Soft On Racism. If anything, they're likely to increase the ban to reiterate how Hard On Racism they are.

Also agree with this. I think Suarez is the ideal candidate for the FA to focus on. A foreigner with a reputation for diving, unlike Gerrard, Owen or Rooney of course, and with a bad episode in his past. Suarez gave them an open goal, and unlike ourselves, they took it. An appeal by Liverpool on the basis he is not rascist is doomed to fail, because the charge is using racist language, and if Suarez told them he used the word Negrito, or a derivative, then there's not much else there to reduce the ban. Apart from the ridiculous assertion that he captained a team with black players and some of them are even his friends.

I'm a big fan of Liverpool, and have been for years, but this is not a battle to fight. As I've said earlier, reiterate that Suarez is NOT a racist, as backed up by Evra and the FA, but he used a term which was deemed racist, hence the charge. Then treat it like an 8 game injury and get on with it.

And how do you do that without appealing? Issue another statement, release a picture of him with Glen Johnson and Andre Wisdom all smiling? Appeal and fight the FA with whatever they have, no more rolling over for the FA, take them the legal route for all I care, their is no other way to shake this off Suarez and the club, you can already see the tabloids having a field day and for the man on the street in the UK they are the gospel.

I'll not be suprised if Barca and Real are rubbing their hands this morning and preparing a bid in the summer, if not sooner.

[deiseach]

I was just about to post, can a Liverpool fan give a reason why Suarez should've been found not guilty based on what they know, what's fact, and not contain the words 'John Terry'.

Well, quite simply this was one man's word against another. Piara Powar of Football Against Racism in Europe has admitted that what Suarez said is not always racially charged:

Powar said Fare has taken advice on the abusive word used by Suarez and the context of similar words in South American dialect.

He added: "If it is used in a friendly fashion then it is acceptable, it turns immediately to a hostile meaning if it is used as an offensive word.

"Taking the context of that game, it is difficult to see how he would have used it in a friendly way."

I've included the whole of his comment so no one can accuse me of quoting him out of context .

However, Evra has in a past incident that you may be aware of given evidence that the FA considered "exaggerated and unreliable". So it seems odd that suddenly he's became reliable, that his contention that Suarez meant it in a vicious way is the correct version of events.

Anyway, it's all academic now. They've drawn a line in the sand, and there's no point in trying to cross it

[AZOffaly]

All I'll say about Suarez is that if Liverpool have any sense they'll not appeal this decision. The FA want to make an example of someone so they can demonstrate to anyone who asks how determined they are to be Hard On Racism, and who better than the foreigner with reputation for cheating - they'll be doubly delighted in Ghana - and cannibalism? There's no way they can be seen to step back from this lest they be accused of being Soft On Racism. If anything, they're likely to increase the ban to reiterate how Hard On Racism they are.

Also agree with this. I think Suarez is the ideal candidate for the FA to focus on. A foreigner with a reputation for diving, unlike Gerrard, Owen or Rooney of course, and with a bad episode in his past. Suarez gave them an open goal, and unlike ourselves, they took it. An appeal by Liverpool on the basis he is not rascist is doomed to fail, because the charge is using racist language, and if Suarez told them he used the word Negrito, or a derivative, then there's not much else there to reduce the ban. Apart from the ridiculous assertion that he captained a team with black players and some of them are even his friends.

I'm a big fan of Liverpool, and have been for years, but this is not a battle to fight. As I've said earlier, reiterate that Suarez is NOT a racist, as backed up by Evra and the FA, but he used a term which was deemed racist, hence the charge. Then treat it like an 8 game injury and get on with it.

And how do you do that without appealing? Issue another statement, release a picture of him with Glen Johnson and Andre Wisdom all smiling? Appeal and fight the FA with whatever they have, no more rolling over for the FA, take them the legal route for all I care, their is no other way to shake this off Suarez and the club, you can already see the tabloids having a field day and for the man on the street in the UK they are the gospel.

I'll not be suprised if Barca and Real are rubbing their hands this morning and preparing a bid in the summer, if not sooner.

Because Evra and the FA have both said they do not believe he is a rascist. They charged him with using a rascist term, which he has more or less admitted, if the term is Negrito. He may not have intended it as a rascist term, but both Evra and the FA have said they consider it to be so.

The ban is harsh on that basis in my opinion, but I doubt they'll reduce it on appeal for the reasons deiseach has mentioned.

[blewuporstuffed]

will evra not be charged with  accusing a referee of being racist?
did he not say ' you are only booking me because i am black'  ?
surely this is unacceptable also?

[Doogie Browser]

Once the Cops are finished with John Terry I can see a similar ban for him, the evidence was more conclusive IMO.
8 games is too much in this case with so much ambiguity floating about but the FA seem determined to set a precedent for such offences which is a dangerous can of worms.

[Bingo]

Because Evra and the FA have both said they do not believe he is a rascist. They charged him with using a rascist term, which he has more or less admitted, if the term is Negrito. He may not have intended it as a rascist term, but both Evra and the FA have said they consider it to be so.

The ban is harsh on that basis in my opinion, but I doubt they'll reduce it on appeal for the reasons deiseach has mentioned.

No harm, but thats very niave if you then he isn't going to branded a racist for the rest of his days. Already seen the Mirrors back page, Luther Blisset wants him jailed and other wanted him sacked. Not too many have taken the road that he isn't a racist like Evra or the FA, which wouldn't even be in the public domain only for LFC's statement.

He's branded now and an appeal in the courts is the only way he'll prove otherwise, if as LFC have said is the case. This isn't about John Terry, couldn't care less about that.

Expect a fired up away support tonight at Wigan judging by the forums, Suarez in for alot of love.

[deiseach]

I think what irks me about the whole affair is something AZ touched (touched, Hashtag! - LOZ!) upon:

A foreigner with a reputation for diving, unlike Gerrard, Owen or Rooney of course, and with a bad episode in his past

Forget about John Terry. If Steven Gerrard had said something akin to what Suarez had said, the FA would not have handed down this ban or anything like it. It isn't about Liverpool, it's about the English love of assuming that things like racism, spitting, diving, feigning injury and trying to get opponents sent off is a foreign import. And this verdict allows them to continue with that fantasy.

(And before anyone accuses me of being anti-English . . . I've got loads of English friends! )

[Bingo]

I think what irks me about the whole affair is something AZ touched (touched, Hashtag! - LOZ!) upon:

A foreigner with a reputation for diving, unlike Gerrard, Owen or Rooney of course, and with a bad episode in his past

Forget about John Terry. If Steven Gerrard had said something akin to what Suarez had said, the FA would not have handed down this ban or anything like it. It isn't about Liverpool, it's about the English love of assuming that things like racism, spitting, diving, feigning injury and trying to get opponents sent off is a foreign import. And this verdict allows them to continue with that fantasy.

(And before anyone accuses me of being anti-English . . . I've got loads of English friends! )

Anglophobic - 8 week GAABOARD ban 

[supersub]

I think Liverpool's statement was ridiculous to be honest. Some of the phrases in there would make you embarrassed reading it. We like to slag Ferguson and Wenger when they say stupid, one eyed stuff, but this is as bad as anything they've done.

I think the best way for the club, and the supporters to handle this one is.

1. Recognise that, at the very least, what Suarez said (if it is the word) was at best ill advised and daft.
2. Support Suarez publicly by focussing on the fact that he is and never intended to be racist, but accepts that what he said could easily be taken that way and accept he was wrong.
3. Take the medicine on that basis.
4. Foster a Manchester United like grudge against the world and use it to drive the club on.

If I was at work, and called someone I was obviously having a row with, a word which they considered to be either racist, sexist or homophobic, then I'd be in exactly the same boat that Suarez found himself in.

I agree with everything in this post.

AZ you're too mature for this page.

I was just about to post, can a Liverpool fan give a reason why Suarez should've been found not guilty based on what they know, what's fact, and not contain the words 'John Terry'.

Well can any other person give a reason why he should've be found guilty based on what they know, what's fact, and not contain the words 'setting an example because he is a foreigner' bullshit.

[ballinaman]

Liverpool could do without eejits like John Aldridge on Sky Sports news spouting sh1te! Embarrassing stuff, "he's no racist, we know that, his grandfather is black"

[Geoff Tipps]

The facts of the case seem to be getting blurred at every turn. First we were led to believe that Suarez may have used the term "negrito". Based on Liverpool's statement where they question why Evra's word is being taken over Suarez, it would seem to suggest that they are disputing he said this at all.

[new devil]

All joking aside i never thought for a second Suarez would get a ban..didn't think there was any evidence until someone pointed out here last week that he admitted calling him a negritto or whatever it was...So is it fair in saying that Suarez fucked himself by admitting this?

[Minder]

I could be wrong, unlikely but possible, but I am beginning to think that Liverpools steadfast support for Suarez may also be motivated by showing Suarez they are "sticking up for him", if they didn't stand by him it wouldn't be beyonds the realms of possibility that you would have a transfer request in the summer, with that lack of support cited, regardless of it motivated the transfer request or not. Then again I am very cynical.

I also think Liverpool should take the medicine, 3 of the 8 games are cup matches (City twice & Oldham), and the other upcoming games are not overly taxing. Liverpool have 9 games in 37 days after tonight, take the hit and have him for the business end of the season.

[Geoff Tipps]

All joking aside i never thought for a second Suarez would get a ban..didn't think there was any evidence until someone pointed out here last week that he admitted calling him a negritto or whatever it was...So is it fair in saying that Suarez fucked himself by admitting this?

Yeah I think that's the case.

[ludermor]

PFA back strong statement on racism
Luis Suarez's eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra is a strong statement that racism will not be tolerated, players chief Gordon Taylor has said.

Liverpool striker Suarez is expected to appeal - the Uruguay international's defence was that due to cultural differences he was unaware that language acceptable in his country was viewed as racist in Europe. Liverpool have reacted with fury at the punishment for the 24-year-old, who was also fined £40,000, which was imposed by an FA independent regulatory commission.

"This was an independent commission experienced in law and football and they must have had compelling evidence, and it sends out a very strong message to the rest of the world," said Taylor.

"I understand the point about cultural differences but if you come to this country all players have to abide by not just the laws of the game but the laws of the land as well.

"Referring to someone's skin colour has got to be offensive - it's self-evident.

"No one can say the FA have ducked this issue and bearing in mind outcry in this country over Sepp Blatter's remarks it sends out an important message.

"This is a timely reminder that the FA, the PFA and the clubs to continue education programmes particularly for players coming from abroad that it is never right to make reference to a person's skin colour or nationality."

Taylor said the high-profile nature of the issue, with two of the biggest clubs in the world, would reinforce the message.

He added: "This is a situation involving two of our biggest clubs and a very sensitive time and it reiterates the message we want to get out. We are a multicultural society and a cosmopolitan league and players must have equal respect for people regardless of their nationality or skin colour.

"You can understand Liverpool being upset as they are a top quality club with a top quality manager but perhaps it is a timely reminder that players new to this country need to be advised about what is unacceptable."

Press Association


I was expecting the PFA to be backing Suarez on this one