LIVERPOOL STRIKER Luis Suarez still insists the allegations surrounding his ban for racial abusing Patrice Evra were “all false”.
The Uruguayan, 27, was banned for eight games after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Evra in 2011.
But Suarez said he had only two regrets during his career, and they were the biting incidents in the Eredivisie and Premier League.
Suarez’s spell with Ajax ended in controversy as he was given a seven-match ban for biting PSV midfielder Otman Bakkal – his move to Liverpool soon after meant the game in which the incident occurred was his last in the Eredivisie.
The issue reared its head again last season as Suarez appeared to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm, he was subsequently banned for 10 games.
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Since his return to action earlier this season, the striker has hit the headlines for all the right reasons, having scored 23 goals to sit well clear atop the goalscoring charts in England’s top flight.
“I’ve made only two mistakes in my career,” he told radio station Sport 890. ”My first was when I was playing for Ajax and I bit an opponent. My second was when I bit (Branislav) Ivanovic.
“Those two were my only two mistakes as a footballer. I said I’m sorry and that was it, end of story.
“I’ve nothing else to regret – all the other things were like a movie people in England believed in. The case with Evra was all false. I was accused without proof. But that’s in the past. I was sad then, but I’m happy today.
“I’m happy I’ve worked things out and realised certain things. If you don’t give food to the press, then there’s nothing they can say about you.
“I’ve been through a lot, and there has been a storm, but I realised that I had to focus on football and less on those things.
“I’ve grown up. I’ve tried hard to think more about things before doing them.
“The people in England don’t talk about me now because I’m not doing anything wrong. They have to talk only about me as a footballer.”
With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Suarez admitted he was scared about potentially getting injured. Colombian Radamel Falcao and England’s Theo Walcott are both set to miss the Brazil tournament due to injury.
“The truth is, I am scared of what happened to Falcao and Walcott,” Suarez, who finished fourth in the 2010 edition with Uruguay, added.
“It is striking. It gives you a little thing at every tackle in every game. But you live in the present and you always give your best for your club – you can’t be thinking about that all the time.
“It is a unique opportunity and we all want to be there, but I prefer to focus my mind on the English league. The moment to think about the national team will arrive later.”
‘I’ve made only two mistakes in my career’ — Evra racism claims all false, says Suarez
LIVERPOOL STRIKER Luis Suarez still insists the allegations surrounding his ban for racial abusing Patrice Evra were “all false”.
The Uruguayan, 27, was banned for eight games after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Evra in 2011.
But Suarez said he had only two regrets during his career, and they were the biting incidents in the Eredivisie and Premier League.
Suarez’s spell with Ajax ended in controversy as he was given a seven-match ban for biting PSV midfielder Otman Bakkal – his move to Liverpool soon after meant the game in which the incident occurred was his last in the Eredivisie.
The issue reared its head again last season as Suarez appeared to bite Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm, he was subsequently banned for 10 games.
Since his return to action earlier this season, the striker has hit the headlines for all the right reasons, having scored 23 goals to sit well clear atop the goalscoring charts in England’s top flight.
“I’ve made only two mistakes in my career,” he told radio station Sport 890. ”My first was when I was playing for Ajax and I bit an opponent. My second was when I bit (Branislav) Ivanovic.
“I’ve nothing else to regret – all the other things were like a movie people in England believed in. The case with Evra was all false. I was accused without proof. But that’s in the past. I was sad then, but I’m happy today.
“I’m happy I’ve worked things out and realised certain things. If you don’t give food to the press, then there’s nothing they can say about you.
“I’ve been through a lot, and there has been a storm, but I realised that I had to focus on football and less on those things.
“I’ve grown up. I’ve tried hard to think more about things before doing them.
“The people in England don’t talk about me now because I’m not doing anything wrong. They have to talk only about me as a footballer.”
With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Suarez admitted he was scared about potentially getting injured. Colombian Radamel Falcao and England’s Theo Walcott are both set to miss the Brazil tournament due to injury.
“The truth is, I am scared of what happened to Falcao and Walcott,” Suarez, who finished fourth in the 2010 edition with Uruguay, added.
“It is striking. It gives you a little thing at every tackle in every game. But you live in the present and you always give your best for your club – you can’t be thinking about that all the time.
“It is a unique opportunity and we all want to be there, but I prefer to focus my mind on the English league. The moment to think about the national team will arrive later.”
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