So the arguments are done, the verdict filed and the report offered: all 115 pages of it. And the ban – eventually – accepted by Luis Suárez and Liverpool for the Uruguay international’s racially motivated abuse of Patrice Evra on 13 October. Except they haven’t. Not really, with club and player still protesting innocence, defaming the Football Association and Patrice Evra in the process and, in full conspiratorial mood, suggesting evidence was deliberately missed by the independent panel. No genuine apology has been offered or ever will be by the Merseyside club or player for Suárez’ abuse of the United defender 10 weeks ago.
The truth, as established by the Independent FA Regulatory Commission is that seven times Suárez aimed abuse at the United player. Seven times he did so by referring in derogatory terms to the colour of the Frenchman’s skin. The facts, as former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez once famously said, are no longer in doubt.
But the truth, it was once said, should never get in the way of a good story. Indeed, it has been one of the most disgraceful episodes in Liverpool’s history as the 119-year-old club set about deliberately prejudicing the most sensitive hearing the FA has held in years. From the get go, so the FA’s report tells us, Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish slandered Evra, accusing the Frenchman of “doing this before” – an erroneous and offensive, but widely spread, piece of misinformation that the Senegalese-born Frenchman had made previously false accusations of racism. He hasn’t. Ever.
Meanwhile, the club issued a series of media briefings aimed at winning not the hearing, but in the court of public opinion, while constructing a case that we now know was built entirely on a lie. The lie that in Uruguay all instances use of the word “negro” is acceptable. The Commission, aided by two linguistics experts, systematically dismantled the excuse over 115 pages of the most thorough investigative report English football governance history.
Kenny Dalglish
Yet, Dalglish and player are steadfast in their refusal to fully apologise; utterly insistent that a widespread conspiracy, involving Manchester United, the FA, an Independent Commission and the media has taken down their man. Injustice they cry! It is has become a cult of total denial; a collective mental illness, led by the clan leader, Dalglish, who is taking hordes of followers with him.
“Ask a linguistic expert, which certainly I am not. They will tell you that the part of the country in Uruguay where he [Suárez] comes from, it is perfectly acceptable,” Dalglish told the media on Tuesday night.
He deliberately ignored the two linguistic experts used by the Commission that contradicted this position. The mind boggles.
“His wife calls him that and I don’t think he is offended by her. We have made a statement and I think it is there for everybody to read. Luis has made a brilliant statement and we will stand by him. We know what has gone on. We know what is not in the report and that’s important for us.
“I think it is very dangerous and unfortunate that you don’t actually know the whole content of what went on at the hearing. I’m not prepared, and I can’t say it, but I am just saying it is really unfortunate you never got to hear it. That’s all I’m saying. Wrong place, wrong time. It could have been anybody. I can’t answer for the FA, you ask them.”
Readers may be forgiven for thinking that, out-of-context, this is the rant of a madman, fuelled by suspicion, hate and delusion. Just because you’re paranoid, it doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. Except this is no madman; Dalglish is quick-witted and in full control of his faculties, but still prepared to spread disinformation to the last. It is far more insidious than mere paranoia.
Almost universally outside insular Liverpool’s confines, the world of football has condemned the club for its stance. After all, Liverpool is a world renown institution that is a flag-bearer for English football. The club’s management should know better. And while United supporters can watch, dumbstruck by the utter ineptitude down the East Lancs Road, it is to football’s discredit that Liverpool has set out to destroy much of the work done to eliminate racism in football.
Voices of reason
Yet, the voices of reason will still hope that a recalcitrant Dalglish, perhaps prompted by the embarrassingly silent owner John W Henry, will eventually see sense. History suggests those voices do not hold their collective breaths.
“An apology would certainly help things because hen people do apologise it certainly moves things on,” Show Racism the Red Card chief executive Ged Grebby told Goal.com on Wednesday.
“I think that it would help the situation no end if he accepted that he had done wrong and personally apologised to Patrice Evra. If there was an element to this that he did understand the language differences then the easiest thing to do would have been to apologise.
“I think that Liverpool Football Club owe Patrice Evra an apology. They raised this issue about him having previous over the Chelsea incident when, if you look at that, it was two members of Manchester United’s staff that reported it. It was a legitimate incident. It wasn’t a red herring.
“The FA have sent out a really strong message to say that it is not acceptable in the game for there to be any kind of abuse where you are using people’s skin colour, religion or culture.”
Support for this position has come from across the football world, including those outside of a often parochial England. Indeed, for once the FA has set an example for which European nations can learn much. While racism is endemic in Spain, for example, the FA has taken a strong step in England.
Pressure from the FA?
And that is apparently a key tenet of Liverpool’s paranoid attack. That in seeking to take a strong line against racism, the Independent Commission has been pressured by the FA executive to, essentially, fake the findings of the report, an erroneously sanction Suárez. It is a nonsense that few outside of Liverpool’s fraternity will pay any heed to.
“Racial abuse between players on the field of play has been an unspoken taboo for too long, an area that has been unsatisfactorily dealt with by English football despite many cases over the past ten years,” said Piara Powar, Executive Director of Football Against Racism in Europe.
“We would also call on Liverpool FC to think again about their public campaign to dispute the charges and contest the principles involved in the case. As a club with an international standing the vehemency of their campaign is unquestionably causing them reputational harm, and has lead to Liverpool fans to become involved in a backlash of hatred on web forums and other public arenas.”
Liverpool backlash
That backlash has included some of the most obscene racist and deluded thinking ever experienced in the English football community. Racism, it seems, is more alive than ever if the content created on social media sites by Liverpool supporters is a barometer. The sad irony is that those Liverpool supporters subjecting Evra, Stan Collymore and others to racist abuse, do so in the name of ‘supporting’ a player accused of the very same crime.
Liverpool has much to answer for. The storm of vitriol, deliberately whipped up by the club and Dalglish, has intensified because of United’s involvement. Victimisation is well practised in Liverpool, but ‘injustice’ at United’s hands could never be accepted. Dalglish’s tweet, for example, when the panel’s verdict was announced shortly before the New Year that Suarez should “Never Walk Alone” pandered to the masses in crudest fashion.
It is a dangerous time for the game, concludes Professional Footballers’ Association chairman Gordon Taylor, who warns that racism is a curse that football must collectively challenge. Seemingly, in spite of Liverpool’s intransigence.
“Some issues are bigger than a player, the club or the game and racism is one of those. We have to learn from it and there should be no misunderstanding or ambiguity in the future,” adds Taylor.
“You don’t want such issues to divide clubs or society. We’re all in a football family but we’re all under the law of the land. Once a penalty has been paid and carried out we move on in a positive manner to make sure the penalty acts as a deterrent. The educational process continues.
“We all know the word ‘negro’ can be taken to mean a very inflammatory word. Any reference to the colour of a person’s skin has to be eradicated. In the heat of battle things can be said, but sometimes they go beyond what’s acceptable. We have had 20 or 30 years of campaigning against racism. I hope we can move on from this and learn our lessons.”
Sadly, it is a lesson unlikely to be heard on Merseyside if the past two months is a barometer. One of England’s finest clubs, mired in hate and paranoia. Now devoid of dignity, barren of respect, and when it comes to race relations, without a shred of legitimacy.
Liverpool loses dignity, respect and legitimacy
(88 posts) (20 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Geno
Member
Posted by unregistered user: GenoSuarez and Liverpool FC must have changed PR advisers as Suarez has now issued the following apology:
“I admitted I said a word in Spanish once & only once. I told the panel I would not use it again on a football pitch in England. I never, ever, used this word in a derogatory way and if it offends anyone I want to apologise.”
It is, to my mind, quite mealy-mouthed and deliberately worded in such a way as to be the absolute bare minimum required to qualify as an “apology”. He does not direct it towards Patrice Evra, just to anyone in general (eg any Liverpool fans) who was offended.
Liverpool FC and Kenny Dalglish have yet to apologise for the incredibly slanderous insults they have made in relation to Patrice Evra’s credibility and character. I’m not holding my breath waiting for that apology.
I heartily endorse every critical sentiment expressed by Ed in relation to the behaviour of Kenny Dalglish and of Liverpool FC.
Having said that, I expect this is the best that Patrice is going to get, and it’s time to move on. You can forgive without being required to forget.
Posted 1 year ago # -
sidney
Member
It's one of those bullshit apologies
'...if it offends anyone I want to apologise' - he doesn't actually apologise; he says he wants to... and he also says' IF it offends anyone'', which is conforming to the bullshit notion that fella subscribes to (can't remember his name - the one who Squigs destroyed) that offence can't be given, only taken
Not quite as bad as the Fergie classic 'I'm sorry you feel that way' apology, mind
Posted 1 year ago # -
GoonerDave
Member Posted by unregistered user: GoonerDaveEvra is no angel, and never seems to keep his mouth shut!
That said, I agree with your article, and want to compliment you on it. Its well written, thorough and factual.
The amount of fans commenting on this who clearly didnt read the report is staggering.
This really is bigger than football. Or sport.
Suarezs comments to Evra were revolting, but LFCs PR department should also be ashamed of themselves. They have done far more damage to Suarezs career than they would care to admit.
Nobody outside LFC and its fans think Suarez was hard done by, and that tells a lot.
Again, great article and keep up the good work!Posted 1 year ago # -
SuaRed – and my skin colour is what? Yes, you don’t know. You’re right in saying that context matters, and the context as found in fact by the Commission was that Suarez attempted to wind up Evra and used his skin colour as the lever to do it:
PE: Why did you kick me? LS: Because you’re black
PE: Say that again. LS: I don’t talk to blacks
PE: Say that again and I’ll bunch you. LS: Okay, blackie, blackie, blackie.Editor & Moderator at http://www.unitedrant.co.ukPosted 1 year ago # -
TKP – fine rant. But if you want to talk about reductionist thinking, let’s include your comment which fails to acknowledge, even once, the findings in fact that led to Suarez’ ban. He used Evra’s skin colour as a lever for vile abuse seven times. Until you can admit the facts as found your view has no weight whatsoever. Go on. Blame everybody else bar the perpetrator.
Posted 1 year ago # -
captainhormone
Member Posted by unregistered user: captainhormoneDon’t be daft ed, he won’t do that as he is a scouser. Its always everyone else’s fault bar their own. Only in this day and age can a simple case of rascist abuse be turned on its head and the aggressor become the victim. Well done liverpool for dragging us back 30 years. You have shit on Evra (who is the true victim here), and shit on your own heritage at the same time.
Disgrace!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Triggs
Member Posted by unregistered user: TriggsNothing to do with the FA, it was an independent panel.
“his character history and social work in this area is impeccable”. Good for him, you’d think he’d be more likely to acknowldege that what he was proven to have said was offensive.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Geno
Member Posted by unregistered user: GenoGreat article by Lord Herman Ouseley, chairman of Kick It Out, on Liverpool’s hypocrisy here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/05/luis-suarez-liverpool
No commenting allowed on the Guardian site but there’s a report on the article on the Times site and Liverpool supporters are embarassing themselves there by calling for Lord Ouseley to resign from Kick It Out.
Pretty soon someone from LFC’s PR dept is going to have start calling for these morons to shut the fuck up due to the damage their doing to Liverpool’s “global brand”.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Geno
Member Posted by unregistered user: GenoMy favourite 2 paras from Lord Ouseley’s article:
“Since the incident we’ve not heard a word of complaint from Evra about how his character has been besmirched by Liverpool. This is surely something the FA and the PFA and the whole of football should be concerned about: we can’t have a situation where there is just one side on the attack.
Surely the new owners, with their experiences of equality and inclusion in the US, can see how their brand is being devalued, and if they sanction this sort of lack of professionalism and moral leadership, we may as well pack up and go home and forget about anti‑racism.”
Well said, Lord Ouseley.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Damian Garside
Member Posted by unregistered user: Damian GarsideCan’t thery step back and think: what does this say about Liverpool football club? What does this say about what LFC has become.
If it hadn’t involved one of our players, they may not have reacted in this way — which actually makes it worse: that they can forget themselves and their social responsibilities becaue they are blinded by their loathing (and, crazy at it may have once seemed) their jealousy of us.
If I were a black footballer I would not want to play for them if this is their attitude towards racial equality.
And please note: to a person of colour a racial insult is worse than anything because it instantly invokes the very sad history of racial exploitation on the planet, and denies the other person their common humanity. Maybe when we are all truly equal and race is seen completely differently and no longer is used to make someone feel less than human, then we can afford to be less intense in our repudiation of what Suarez said and did. But until that happy non-racial day such things cannot be tolerated.
Posted 1 year ago # -
chocolatteballs
Member
If i were black and supported Liverpool fc i'd be disgusted with some of the abuse aimed at Evra by some ignorant racist fans and i'd start to think i was part of a whites only club.
They have no case here, most of them don't know there is a transcript never mind actually reading it and almost all of them think that it is Fergie that has put Evra up to this.
Holy knights of Cloumbus.
The real troubles in life are apt to the things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle tuesday.Posted 1 year ago # -
didn't john barnes come out and say that it was all a witch hunt against suarez?
off top of my head you head sisoko, ngog, penant, cisse - must be more.Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.
Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice - Steven JobsPosted 1 year ago # -
Geno
Member Posted by unregistered user: GenoAbsolutely right about Barnes. That was before the panel’s report was released in all its gory glory. Barnes has yet to resurface to renew his defence of El Buzo. Perhaps he’s still on holidays. Or perhaps he’s locked up in Kenny’s attic with a gag stuffed in his mouth to prevent him from publicly recanting. This is after all the club whose fans attacked Alan Smith’s ambulance in 2006.
Come to think of it, I guess it’s a bit harsh to consider many LFC fans to be latent racists. They hate white people too.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Geno
Member Posted by unregistered user: GenoAbsolutely right about Barnes. That was before the panel’s report was released in all its gory glory. Barnes has yet to resurface to renew his defence of El Buzo. Perhaps he’s still on holidays. Or perhaps he’s locked up in Kenny’s attic with a gag stuffed in his mouth to prevent him from publicly recanting. This is after all the club whose fans attacked Alan Smith’s ambulance in 2006.
Come to think of it, I guess it’s a bit harsh to consider many LFC fans to be latent racists. They hate white people too, damn it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
squigs
Member
Ed said:
Damian – Glen Johnson aside, no black footballers do play for Liverpool. Coincidence maybe, but most of Dalglish’s teams have had no or few black players.I think it's very much coincidence tbh.
They are still very much in the wrong here and have retaliated with typical self pity, paranoia and baseless counter accusations for which they are famed for. What Kenny Dalglish has to do to be called up on an FA disrepute charge I don't know.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Commenter said:
Absolutely right about Barnes. That was before the panel’s report was released in all its gory glory. Barnes has yet to resurface to renew his defence of El Buzo. Perhaps he’s still on holidays. Or perhaps he’s locked up in Kenny’s attic with a gag stuffed in his mouth to prevent him from publicly recanting. This is after all the club whose fans attacked Alan Smith’s ambulance in 2006.Come to think of it, I guess it’s a bit harsh to consider many LFC fans to be latent racists. They hate white people too, damn it.
yep, how can barnes defend this now? i tend to agree with Squigs that this is cooincidence that LFC have not had that many black players.
they of course had the Guv'Nor, Ince!!!
IMO, the most underrated player of SAF's reign.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Damian Garside
Member Posted by unregistered user: Damian GarsideSorry, I mean “impenetrable”. Thinking of Ince made me use an extra `r’: lots of `rrrrr’ around when he was terrorizing opponents in midfield. Giggs and Park: has to be the polar opposite of the 94 midfield with Keane and Ince. Lots of `fff’s in a Park Giggs central midfield.
Posted 1 year ago # -
shauno
Member Posted by unregistered user: shaunoOnce he admitted saying those words all that was needed was an acknowledgement that he was wrong and an apology. The issue would have been done and dusted.
“I’m sorry for the words I used towards Patrice Evra and the controversy it has caused. I am not a racist but I made an error in judgement. I’d like to move on and concentrate on my football having learned a valuable lesson”.
Whilst some would still hound him as they always will. Most wouldn’t. Importantly he would have repaired some of the damage. It’s that simple.
It’s clear that he made a racial slur. Racial slurs are viewed very differently in Latin America. But it’s still a racial slur and he is not in Latin America. Did any of these Suarez supporters stick up for Ron Atkinson in the same way as Suarez? I doubt it. Ron Atkinson’s defence had similarities to Suarez. Didn’t help and rightly didn’t matter. I guarantee that as an individual Suarez would feel a whole lot better once he held his hands up and admitted his mistake. But he will not and that presents such a bad example on so many levels to so many people.
Posted 1 year ago #
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