RIO FERDINAND FEELS Liverpool should have issued an official apology for their unacceptable response to Luis Suarez’s ban for using racist language towards Patrice Evra in 2011.
The former Liverpool forward, now at Barcelona, was handed an eight-game ban by the FA after he was found to have racially abused the French left-back in a game between Manchester United and Liverpool eight years ago.
Liverpool took the controversial decision to stand by Suarez, posing before a later game with Wigan Athletic wearing ‘Suarez 7’ shirts in support of the Uruguayan.
Then-Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher apologised for his part in the demonstration on punditry duty with Sky Sports this week, as he was on air with Evra.
“There is no doubt we made a massive mistake, that was obvious,” Carragher said.
But while Ferdinand applauded Carragher for his actions, the former Manchester United defender thinks some acknowledgement needs to come from the club as well.
“That’s eight years late, eight years late,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.
Testament to Jamie Carragher for apologising, eight years after the incident.
“I was there on the pitch. At the end of the day, it’s bigger than Jamie Carragher, it’s the club.
Liverpool let themselves down that day, wearing t-shirts in support of someone who’s been accused of a racist comment. Yet, eight years on and still the apology hasn’t come from Liverpool in that sense.”
The incident has come in for renewed scrutiny as racist abuse continues to dominate the headlines around football, with numerous high-profile incidents recorded in English football and beyond this season.
"Testament to Jamie Carragher for apologising eight years after the incident."
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 22, 2019
"Liverpool let themselves down that day wearing the t-shirts"@rioferdy5, @GaryLineker, Owen Hargreaves and Joe Hart discuss racism in football, with Rio drawing example from Suarez and Evra in 2011. pic.twitter.com/lkMkrJPv8z
While abuse of England’s players from Bulgarian fans in their Euro 2020 qualifying game earlier this month received widespread condemnation, racism has continued to blight the game at every level of the English footballing pyramid in the following weeks.
Liverpool have been involved in such incidents more than once this year.
A fan was sentenced earlier this season after a series of Islamophobic posts about Reds star Mohamed Salah on social media, while Leicester City reported abuse of young midfielder Hamza Choudhury to the police after the two sides met in the Premier League earlier in October.
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pair of copa mundials is all one needs.
Can you imagine trying to clean the muck off them after plying on a waterlogged pitch?!
Every parent’s worst nightmare. My wallet feels lighter already!
Time you told your kid the word no!
Ye’d wanna be fairly fast and skillful to get away with wearing them on a cold sunday in wexford
Would go down a storm in the junior b North Tipperary hurling championship! Old bitter full backs would love to see lads wearing these
Nonsense
The Metatarsal will become even more popular so!
Here’s hoping , Suarez will be the first one to try them out :-)
He is the first one actually, against united. As a Liverpool fan I’m dreading it. Imagine vidic going in on one of these things. Break your foot off
No, Suarez is trialling the knitted boot, not this.
With the sock bit I mean
Read the story about Paul Scholes purchasing boots for €30 at JD sports before his comeback at city, says it all!
How do you wash the sock? What happens if you get a hole in it!! Even worse image away matches with a different kit!!! Youd need home amd away boots!!!
Hmmm somebody on the pitch to hurt
What ever happened to good old Puma Kings?
Boots of the future hahahahahahahahahashahahahaahahahahahaahahahagagagagagahha……… Wwwwwwoooooioooooooooooo……..!
So when will the nike team blouse and tu-tu shorts be available?
Bad idea. They will weaken players ankles.
Like boxing shoes only with studs