MAN UNITED MANAGER Alex Ferguson has spoken out in favour of the decision to hand Liverpool striker Luis Suarez an eight-game ban for alleged racial abuse.
The Uruguayan star has received both criticism and support from various football authorities since the ban was announced.
However in contrast with his colleague, Kenny Dalglish, Ferguson claimed the hefty ban imposed on Suarez was “the right decision”.
Speaking to reporters, he said:
“Our support of Patrice was obvious right from the word go and that’s still the same. The matter is over and I think we’re satisfied that they [the FA's independent commission] found the right decision. This wasn’t about Manchester United and Liverpool at all. It was nothing to do with that. This was an individual situation where one person was racially abused.”
And while Dalglish has maintained that the club are right to continue to support the player, Ferguson hinted they should stop protesting, comparing the situation to another Evra-related incident in which the left-back was involved in an argument with the Chelsea ground staff:
“Patrice got that suspension for the incident down at Chelsea when no one was there, just a groundsman and our fitness coach. He got a four-match ban and we had to wait two weeks for the evidence to come through. We were quite astounded at that. A four-match ban? We thought it was well over the top for a trivial incident. But it happened and there’s nothing you can do about it, you know.”
Suarez is alleged to have used the word “negro,” however his backers claim the misunderstanding was due to “cultural differences,” while others argue that this should be “no excuse” for the star.
Meanwhile, there was one piece of good news for Suarez. He has been announced as the 2011 Sky Sports Player of the Year, with the Liverpool Echo reporting of complaints that the vote was rigged.
Ferguson would say that, wouldn’t he??!! If the incident involved say Vidic and Glen Johnson, he would have a completely altered perspective. Fergie is the unquestioned master of speaking out of both sides of his mouth.
Of course he’s going to agree with the decision. It was the right decision and you can’t defend the indefensible, unless your a Liverpool player or supporter of course. If you want to rid the game of racism then there has to be tough punishments.
I admit I’m a Liverpool fan but I think I can generally take my red scarf off at times to say if a player does something wrong he deserves punishment. But in this case an 8 match ban and £40,000 fine is extremely excessive( for what is esentially one mans word against anothers).
In many ways if you take a look at from Suarez’s side of the coin on this issue one might argure that by being insensitive to Luis Suarez’s cutrural background and his understand of the word ‘negreto’ as an inoffensive term, the FA are actually being racist towards him as they dismiss his cultural background and understanding of the world and what he did as being wrong. By punishing him so severely they are dismissing his cultural and way of life as being inferior to that of the English or British way of understanding things i.e our way is right your way is wrong. This shows a lack of cultural sensitivity and a lot of ignorance on the part of the English F.A.
Suarez should had been arrested and jailed. That sort of abuse should not be tolerated. £40,000 is nothing to him. Although the 8 match ban will impact more, he should still had been jailed… he’s scum.
Finally a witness.
@Rodger
He was found guilty. If he was found guilty, then there was substantial evidence that proved he racially abused Evra. If you were racially abused on the street in from of many many people. You would want him prosecuted.
Arrested and jailed?? Ha ha. I think there’s a job going in north Korea if you’re interested – there’s only one other name in the hat for it.
@John
If you were black and someone in a shop full of people called you a “negro”, you’re telling me that you wouldn’t want him arrested and trialled for breaking the Incitement To Hatred Act. If not, then there’s something seriously wrong with you. Just because he’s a soccer play doesn’t mean that he is above the law in any shape, size or form.
Ah come on Luke. If what you are telling me is true, then how did 20 other players not see or hear it in the penalty area. Evra is a baby, third time accusing people of racially abusing him. Steve Finnan got accused before – in fairness like!!!! Nobody disputes Suarez got it wrong, but that was only because of cultural differences. Suarez isnt Caucasian himself either. This has been blown out of proportion and your reference to incitement to hatred is crazily hyper-exaggerated.
I think calling someone a “negro” at least ten times is breaking the Incitement To Hatred Act.
And I think it’s the tale of the boy who cried wolf.
Classy comment there Luke. Happy Christmas :P
That’s like saying if someone in England called me a “paddy” or in America called me a “Mick” they should be arrested and fined. Grow the hell up. It’s just bloody name calling. There are bigger problems in the world.
Luke you clearly an Man Utd fan!
@Stephen Moore.
No, if someone called you a “smoked Irish” or “white nigger”, then that is the equivalent to what was said to Evra. Although a “Micky” and a “Paddy” are too offensive words, they don’t strike the same potency that those words do. I’m amazed at how many people don’t find Suarez to be a dirty little racist.
Luke, Evra himself has said that he doesn’t believe Suarez is racist so why should you?
Yeah I’d like to see if something like that happened to ‘golden boy’ Rooney would he have come out with a statement like this?easy to preach when the shoe is on the other foot
Can somebody please tell me when the FA plan to charge Evra. He actually admitted to racially abusing Suarez.
Good point. People seem to think because the FA found him guilty it’s cut and dried. Laughable. This whole shambles would be laughed out the door in a court of law in my opinion.
the word was “negrito” coming from the spanish meaning small black man. Its also a tribe of pygmies. What was Suarez charged under?…….. the FA’s new “Stating the fucking obvious act 2011″
Yea Luke …. I’m sure he’s really worried about clownish comments like that
Why is racial abuse different than any other, every match I watch it’s clear the players are shouting abuse at each other and sometimes it gets physical and the players never get bans. I have no idea why just because when you are verbally attacking someone and you use a racial slur it’s more serious, it’s wrong to abuse someone and if the FA are serious about Fair Player they should have a zero tolerance to all abusive behaviour.
Because abusing someone about their race has a long history, people from minority races have been enslaved, stomped on, held back in terms of development and generally just spat on by the richer, whiter, more educated man. People of different races have had to fight tooth and nail for any semblance of equality in the modern world – people who sleep with othe people’s wives are just assholes, they’ve never had to fight for their rights.
Then again you might’ve just been joking I can’t tell. If you don’t se why racial abuse is a lot more serious than calling someone a wanker than I dunno
These guys influence and are supposed to be examples for pretty much every young male in UK and Ireland.
Racism and bigotry ate
*posted too early…
Racism and bigotry are the reasons for some of the most horrific things humans have done to each other.
Too right that a massive stigma be created out of terms like the N word.
I think you will find Luis suarez used the word “negrito” and not Negro as stated in the above article. If we are going to report can we at least use the proper words. Merry Xmas
Please note how I wrote that he is “alleged” to have said this. Moreover, eminent sources, including The Guardian, suggest he used this word, so it’s far from a baseless rumour.
Hey guys,
Please try to bear in mind our comments policy when commenting and in particular, this part:
“Do not make comments which are racist, sexist, homophobic, offensive on the grounds of religion, nationality or demographic group. Do not make comments which are threatening or harassing or which could be perceived as such.”
Thanks,
Paul.
My last comment was none of those things but you still deleted it.
Hi Aaron,
Your last comment was deleted because it contained offensive language that could be construed as deliberately inflammatory. Please try to be more careful in future.
Thanks,
Paul.
Sorry Paul but the word n***** (I’ll censor the word so as not to offend the PC brigade) is not offensive in the context that I used it.
So to anyone wondering my comment was in response to james and said ‘even an idiot like Rooney knows you can’t repeatedly call someone a n***** and claim its a term of affection’
Aaron, you had no legitimate reason for using that word. It wasn’t even the term of abuse that Suarez allegedly used. Therefore, by using it for no legitimate reason, it could be perceived as inciting hatred.
Paul, it took a long time for your intervention, which was long overdue. An t-Uasal Mac a Bháir was the only one using racist language that I read, but then having read comments from him on other subjects, I’m not surprised.
By the way, I am neither a “Poo-el” nor a “Unih-rah” supporter. It amazes me that it is going to take so long for the written ‘judgement’ to be delivered. In a Court of Law, the punishment would only begin when this has been done. I would be very surprised if this case did not spend a lot time before the Court of Law
A simple request asking people to use their common sense and the trolls attack….
Paul – I had no legitimate reason not to use the word. He called him negro or negrito which is the Spanish version of the same word. I’m not Spanish so I’ll use the English version. And Incitement to hatred??? Your having a laugh. The word n***** (once again CENSORED do as not to offend the do gooders) is not racist or inflammatory in the context that I used it. Are you really going to try ban the use of certain words regardless of how they’re used?
Aaron, I’ve clearly explained why your original comment was banned. I won’t be commenting on this matter any further.
@Luke, get a grip lad. Of course Ferguson stands by it but you can rest assured that if it was one his players he’d be up in arms about this.
Ah look the ManU fans are up early. Pathetic really
Did anyone read Hernandez’s interview during the summer when he referred to another player using the term Suarez did? I think everyone’s forgotten about that! Not excusing Suarez at all, it’s just interesting that Hernandez is seen as cute and innocent in his remarks whereas because Suarez is already a hate figure (justifiably some would say) the book is thrown at him.
As an aside it’ll be very interesting to see what they do with John Terry now.
What about Paul McGrath commenting on the Suarez race row saying Liverpool players wrong to support Luis Suarez wearing T-shirts, what about when Ron Atkinsen called a black player a c#%n, Paul McGrath was supporting him after his clearly racist remark!!! Think pot and kettle come to mind Paul !!!! Wonder has it anything to do with him playin for UTD many moons ago ???
Have to agree with Gary there. The united management and some players are kings at winding up players and supporters to inflame a situation. When things are not going fergusons way he accuses of referees,fellow pros and fellow managers of all been in the wrong. I don’t think Suarez was wrong. If you read through the journal article on this yesterday, a Uruguayan man who was bi-lingual admitted that in Uruguay, negro is used to address family members and friends. The way Suarez said it could have meant anything, who knows what was said between himself and evra. Who are we to judge what was said or what was misconstrued as been said. I am not a professor in law, but I do believe if something is said between two people and there are no witnesses and extremely limited evidence, then the case collapses. Hence why the police are have such difficulty in the Terry case. Evidence. The judge would also call into question the character of the plaintiff, who lets say has a shoddy past when it highlights issues on race. I know racism needs to be obliterated but the law of the land must also come first and that is how the system works. So that is why this is such a crazy decision that leaves it now open for every jackass to pop a race comment when he wants to get a fellow pro off the pitch. This is the reason why the likes of ferguson should know better and stop sticking his oar in and just say like most united players that he has no comment. Instead he sees it as the perfect opportunity to have a pop at the opposition.
Suarez confessed. He lived in holland for years before coming to England. He knows what’s right and what’s wrong.
Anyone who knows anything about ferguson knows that this is aimed at getting terry a long ban too.
This boy cries wolf and Luke come clean you are a united fan yes? Sorry but unless your a neutral football fan your opinions are biased and not really taken seriously by anyone with any sense.
A Lot of the arguments are lost here lads on wether you are a man u or pool supporter its turning into oneupmanship ,we all hate too see this in any light, ie.the tram incident.If it did happen on the street he most likely would be in a lot of trouble but would get away with it if no one heard it .ps I am a proud manchester united supporter and only thumb me down if you dont like my comment and not a liverpool fan.
I’m a proud Liverpool supporter but I think the club is acting disgracefully. One of our player’s used a racially abusive term (in any language) and they are playing the victim/bunker mentality that Ferguson invented. Suarez admitted using it, so Evra’s lack of credibility is irrelevant. The 8 week ban is excessive but if they acted with more dignity, admitted wrongdoing and wore anti-racism t-shirts instead of Suarez ones, they would have some chance in getting the ban reduced. There is absolutely no place for racism in sport, politics or public spaces eg trams. (and the word “but” should never follow that sentence).
this could well work in Liverpool’s favor though, creating a THEM v’s US mentality in the team, nothing unites like a common enemy and all that!
http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2011/12/hypocrisy-the-english-disease/ most of these comments are pointless
Some of the comments here are pathetic. Fai play to the Liverpool fan embarrassed by the past week.
A couple of things. I don’t care how endearing a term or action is in your home country, you have to be conscious of local sensibilities. Even if you don’t agree wit local customs, you don’t purposefully ignore them unless you want to cause offence. Suarez clearly used the term INITIALLY in a bid to calm Evra down, bu
*comment postrd early*
But he continued to use the term even when Evra reacted. For the record, I don’t think Suarez is racist (AND THAT’S NOT WHAT HE HAS BEEN BANNED FOR) I just think he’s a complete idiot. How yhink do you hve to be have lived in Western Europe for 5 years and not fealise that maybe saying that to a black Frenchman wouldn’t go.down too well? He’s been charged for racially abusive language, not being a racist – there is a difference.
This isn’t a conspiracy of Fergies or United. An indepndent panel of 3 (including a QC for.gods sake) found Suarez guilty. Do Liverpool fans actually believe a QC would put his reputation on the line without sufficient evidence?! Never mind reputation, his whole career would be fu ked if he banned Suarez “coz I h8 Liverpool lololol”.
On Terry, he should be banned for longer and stripped on England captaincy at the very least. I’m a Chelsea fan btw. Sickened by his behaviour ove the years but pleasantly surpised at the club’s reaction.
@ conor Gallagher, your one of the few talking sense.