The reaction from Merseyside was predictable, even if the strength of Liverpool FC’s statement was shocking. “Twas always the way on Merseyside,” as one journalist surmised when, minutes after the Football Association handed down an eight game ban to striker Luis Suarez, pending appeal, for using abusive and racist language, the club lashed out at the FA, Patrice Evra and anybody else perceived to have wronged ‘their’ player. Wagons circled.
And while the case remains sub judice until the striker’s appeal is heard, and concluded, the prima face case against Suarez was always far less complex that presented. Indeed, Â the FA’s charge against Suarez was strengthened by the Uruguayan’s own words. The corroborating evidence, or lack thereof if the Merseyside club is believed, seemed far less relevant from the moment Suarez admitted in the Uruguayan media to using an unspecified racial epithet, believed to be “Negro”. The striker repeated the claim to the FA panel, leaving the three-man committee with little room for manoeuvre. Acceptable or not in Uruguay, any variation of the “N” word in England, or indeed northern Europe, was never likely to be tolerated. In English law ignorance has never been an excuse.
Yet, the reaction from Liverpool came anyway; another in a strategic pattern of action by the 119-year-old club to subvert the course of FA justice via the media. Liverpool’s cry is little more than a smokescreen, with the Suarez-Evra affair rather simple amid all the deep analysis of nuanced language, culture and, of course, race.
Liverpool’s reaction on Tuesday night may still have far-reaching consequences though, both for the club and relations between two of England’s most venerable institutions. Here is a world renown, and widely respected club, smearing Evra, defending the – prima facie – indefensible, while accusing the FA of institutional bias.
“It is our strong held belief, having gone over the facts of the case, that Luis Suarez did not commit any racist act,” Liverpool’s statement read last night – an inflammatory post that was immediately pulled from the club’s official website, only to be reinstated shortly afterwards.
“It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible – certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations.
“Luis himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was black. He has been personally involved since the 2010 World Cup in a charitable project which uses sport to encourage solidarity amongst people of different backgrounds with the central theme that the colour of a person’s skin does not matter; they can all play together as a team.
“He has played with black players and mixed with their families whilst with the Uruguay national side and was Captain at Ajax Amsterdam of a team with a proud multi-cultural profile, many of whom became good friends.”
Indeed, Evra may well have cause to seek legal advice after Liverpool’s reference to “prior unfounded accusations” – a nod to the 2009 case in which Chelsea groundsman Sam Bethel was accused of using racist language against the Frenchman. The accusation, the FA’s record notes, was made by United coaches Mike Phelan and Richard Hartis, and was at no point repeated by the player.
A reference without subtly: ‘Evra played the race card’.
It is also distressing that Liverpool, a club whose achievements are to be respected no matter the tribal rivalry, should fall into the classic racist’s excuse: ‘Suarez cannot be racist, he has black friends and family’. The charge, as clearly laid out by the FA, was never a question of whether Suarez is a racist, but whether the 26-year-old used racist and offensive language. Everything else is irrelevant.
Yet, Liverpool’s statement on Tuesday night also neatly sums up the club’s closed-ranks strategy over the past two months, with journalists regularly briefed on the club’s position, despite the FA’s warning not to prejudice the eventual hearing. Cynically, the Merseyside club is seemingly more than happy to fan the flames of tribalism.
The Telegraph’s Henry Winter, for example, repeated Liverpool’s case almost verbatim as the hearing began last week. Suarez could not be a racist, so the briefing went, because he has played with black players; the language used is acceptable in Uruguay and, quite laughably, Liverpool owner John Henry once held a memorial day for a black ex Boston Red Socks baseball player. Irrelevance, smoke and mirrors.
Suarez’ appeal is still pending, and although the evidence is unlikely to change, it is conceivable that another panel will cut the sanction. That committee could, of course, increase the ban and fine too. Suarez’ eight game ban and £40,000 fine represents little more than a month on the sidelines and three days’ wages. Many in the game will feel, with justification, that the FA’s response to racism is too little, far too late.
Without the reasoning behind the panel’s decision it is, of course, impossible to pass full judgement. Yet, a precedent is now  set: use of the “N” word in any variation is unacceptable. For that, football fans of all colours – shirt and skin – will recognise that the governing body, albeit via an independent panel, has finally taken a stand.
Except on Merseyside it seems, where Suarez is not a bigot to be condemned, but a martyr slain at the FA’s door.
Suarez becomes Liverpool’s modern martyr
(96 posts) (17 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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RobDiablo
Member
I still find it bemusing and not a little ironic that so many Ranters have chosen to get bent out of shape over an incident in which Suarez apparently reminded Evra that he is black (a fact), and Evra probably replied with something along the lines that Suarez had had sexual relations with his mother, father, and the neighbor's dog (probably true as well, but not generally regarded as a fact), and yet only Suarez stands to be punished. I can't help feeling that Evra is a bit of a crybaby for pressing these charges, and I am baffled by the likelihood that only Suarez will be punished for what occurred in their heated exchange. No offense, Ed, but I think your time would have been better spent preparing your preview of today's match against Fulham.
Posted 1 year ago # -
JayJ
Member
Posted by unregistered user: JayJApparently he called him “Negrito” according to this guy >>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16186556.stm
Check the meaning on Wikipedia.
Got exactly what he deserved Livepool should be ashamed that they are trying to justify what he said!
Posted 1 year ago # -
JayJ
Member Posted by unregistered user: JayJYou are an idiot.
Would u consider yourself a “cry baby” if you told people you got racially abused by someone? In any walk of life?
I think not..
Dont justify this idiots actions, he has a history…Diving, Biting, hand gestures…he is vile.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator
RobDiablo said:
I still find it bemusing and not a little ironic that so many Ranters have chosen to get bent out of shape over an incident in which Suarez apparently reminded Evra that he is black (a fact), and Evra probably replied with something along the lines that Suarez had had sexual relations with his mother, father, and the neighbor's dog (probably true as well, but not generally regarded as a fact), and yet only Suarez stands to be punished. I can't help feeling that Evra is a bit of a crybaby for pressing these charges, and I am baffled by the likelihood that only Suarez will be punished for what occurred in their heated exchange. No offense, Ed, but I think your time would have been better spent preparing your preview of today's match against Fulham.Let it go Mate... there is a good reason why no one agrees with you... you're talking shit.
"Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching' tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you."Posted 1 year ago # -
RobDiablo
Member Posted by unregistered user: RobDiabloOh, if only you could read with comprehension. I make no effort to justify Suarez’s actions; I merely point out that Evra, who is equally culpable of saying hateful things about another person during a heated exchange, will most likely not be punished for it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
RobDiablo
Member Posted by unregistered user: RobDiabloThus speaks they great and powerful Alf. Actually, the reason no one will even examine the question as I put it, is that they prefer to wallow in their hatred of all things Liverpool while regurgitating the party line of the politically correct.
Posted 1 year ago # -
JayJ
Member Posted by unregistered user: JayJComprehension you say? You cant even comprehend your own words! How can Evra get punished? He hasnt done anything?
Notice that you said Evra “probably” replied with something…but then you say he is “culpable” of saying hateful things? Well he is obviously not “culpable” because he hasnt been found guilty of saying anything!
You think they would review the case without looking at what both players were saying? Come on mate think about it.
Suarez has been found guilty, end of. So regardless of what you think Evra “probably” said, it doesnt matter!
Posted 1 year ago # -
captainhormone
Moderator
The fact that Suarez has been found guilty must have been a nailed on cert that he did it
I mean, ffs, for the FA to do anything to suit United they must have had concrete evidence to prosecute...probably why it took so long as they were looking for get out clauses for the dippers..
LKHM
HoofingPosted 1 year ago # -
denton davey
Member Posted by unregistered user: denton daveyThere seem to be two elements of confusion in this matter that have not yet been clarified:
First, did Luis Suarez call “negrito” – lots of suggestions that he did so but no official confirmation of his exact words – and did he do it repeatedly (ten times ?) in the same way that a southern-American racist in the era of segregation would call a black man “boy” ?
Second, is this a matter of “he said/he said” or is there other corroborating evidence ?
It would seem that the panel of FA adjudicators must have had solid evidence to conclude that Suarez’ intention was racist AND that there is further evidence that corroborates that conclusion.
Leaving aside footie-tribalism, this is a high-profile, politically-charged case and I can’t imagine that the FA panel would have come down with a guilty verdict without having solid evidence to support that verdict.
What troubles me about that verdict is the relative leniency of the punishment – the monetary penalty is trivial in the world of a highly-paid player (two/three days’ wages ?) and the eight-match suspension seems astonishing in light of Rio Ferdinand’s eight-month suspension for missing a drug test (which he took within 48 hours and was found to be drug-free). For being found guilty of uttering a racist taunt, I should have thought that a much-lengthier ban would have been in order AND consistent with other punishments for much less serious transgressions.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator Commenter said:
Thus speaks they great and powerful Alf. Actually, the reason no one will even examine the question as I put it, is that they prefer to wallow in their hatred of all things Liverpool while regurgitating the party line of the politically correct.What's with the "great and powerful", shit?... Have I ever deleted one of you posts, or used any form of censorship or acted from a position of authority toward you? Quit being a big baby.
You're back to your ridiculous position of acting like "Rants" resident moral interpreter... who the fuck are you to question peoples reasoning for their outrage?
Now, why don't you dissect the fuck out of that, and then tell me how I've "misunderstood", or that I'm just a "promoter of hatred towards LFC", or some other such garbage.
I call you a cunt!... call me an asshole for saying so... makes perfect sense to me... and I'll take no great umbrage.
Call me a "ni**er lover", or something similar, because my missus is black, and be grateful that you could hide behind your computer, because I'd smack you in the mouth for it... why should that upset me so? Why do I even have to explain something so profoundly simple, to someone who is obviously intelligent?
It makes complete sense to all but the most ignorant of others feelings... racist comments are not just offhand insults, like "you twat", or even more purposeful, "you fucking racist sympathising cockhead" but a specific slur that suggests that not only you, but your whole race and/or culture is somehow inferior to me.
Your stubborn refusal to accept what most see clearly, smacks of shit stirring, just for the sake of starting an argument, to see if you can stand alone against a tide of disagreement... lame hobby if you ask me.
Posted 1 year ago # -
RobDiablo
Member Commenter said:
Comprehension you say? You cant even comprehend your own words! How can Evra get punished? He hasnt done anything?Notice that you said Evra “probably” replied with something…but then you say he is “culpable” of saying hateful things? Well he is obviously not “culpable” because he hasnt been found guilty of saying anything!
You are just proving my point more and more with each post. Evra has admitted to replying - in Spanish, if I remember correctly - with an abusive comment of his own. I used the words "probably" and "something like" because exactly what Evra said has not been reported (or I haven't read it, anyway). The point I am and have been arguing this whole time is not that Suarez is not guilty - he is, by his own admission, apparently, or that he should not be punished - he should, but rather that it is unfair that Evra, who is alleged to have made some pretty hateful comments of his own, should not be punished as well.
It all seems to hinge on the twisted logic that calling someone "Negrito" is more objectionable than "son of a bitch" or "motherfucker". I fail to see the reasonableness of this argument. Now, the FA have definitely got a rule about racist abuse, so Suarez has been charged, found guilty, and will be punished. That's all well and good, but if the FA don't have any rules about other kinds of hateful and abusive language, they need to address this oversight. Evra is not the innocent victim in all this.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator "Evra is not the innocent victim in all this."
And there you have it... you completely miss the point.
Everyone who is black takes offence... not just Evra.
You call someone a cunt... and you are talking to them a alone... you call someone a "black cunt"... and you are suggesting that being a cunt isn't bad enough... but you're a "BLACK" cunt... and that is somehow even worse.
Fuck it... you're just not worth it Mate.
Posted 1 year ago # -
RobDiablo
Member Alfonso Bedoya said:
"I call you a cunt!... call me an asshole for saying so... makes perfect sense to me... and I'll take no great umbrage..."What's with the "great and powerful", shit?... Have I ever deleted one of you posts, or used any form of censorship or acted from a position of authority toward you? Quit being a big baby.
I see, but if I call you "great and powerful" you start to tear up. Had I used the term "mod" in my description, your reply would have made sense.
Alf, you are by no means stupid, and I find myself agreeing with a lot of your posts, but you do have a style of arguing that is not as substantial as you may believe. The force of your disdain for opposing viewpoints - which you make quite clear - is not enough to render them invalid. In order to do that, you actually have to consider what is being said, deconstruct it, and form a coherent and logical reply. This, you quite often fail to do.
Alfonso Bedoya said:
You're back to your ridiculous position of acting like "Rants" resident moral interpreter... who the fuck are you to question peoples reasoning for their outrage?This is still Rant, isn't it? A better question might be: who are you to tell me that I cannot question a point of view I do not agree with?
Alfonso Bedoya said:
Call me a "ni**er lover", or something similar, because my missus is black, and be grateful that you could hide behind your computer, because I'd smack you in the mouth for it... why should that upset me so? Why do I even have to explain something so profoundly simple, to someone who is obviously intelligent?It makes complete sense to all but the most ignorant of others feelings... racist comments are not just offhand insults, like "you twat", or even more purposeful, "you fucking racist sympathising cockhead" but a specific slur that suggests that not only you, but your whole race and/or culture is somehow inferior to me.
Your stubborn refusal to accept what most see clearly, smacks of shit stirring, just for the sake of starting an argument, to see if you can stand alone against a tide of disagreement... lame hobby if you ask me.
In this section you employ more favorite tactics of yours: putting words in one's mouth and attributing motives you fabricate out of thin air. You once wrote something to the effect that the most hateful thing one person could say to another would involve a white man calling a black man "nigger". Try this one: parent to child, "you're ugly, and stupid, and no one will ever love you." Now, that is as close as you will get to killing someone with words. My argument has not been that some people don't take greater offense at racist insults, but that there is no objective reason for them to do so. Hateful words versus the hateful use of words; is this not why The Wire is full of black men referring to one another as "nigger", but it's okay? It is not the word itself, but how it is received that gives it all the power to offend that it has. I would venture to suggest that whatever Evra said in reply to Suarez, it was delivered with as much contempt for Suarez as he could muster and, in my opinion, is worthy of equal punishment.
Posted 1 year ago # -
sidney
Member
What did Evra say? And was it a race based insult? Or just an insult?
If its just an ordinary insult, there is fuck all the FA can do about that
Players tell each other to fuck off hundreds of times a game - while fans sing about players missus' taking it up the arse
What are you gonna do about it
If what he said was so bad, Suarez should formally complain
Posted 1 year ago # -
squigs
Member
RobDiablo said:
I still find it bemusing and not a little ironic that so many Ranters have chosen to get bent out of shape over an incident in which Suarez apparently reminded Evra that he is black (a fact), and Evra probably replied with something along the lines that Suarez had had sexual relations with his mother, father, and the neighbor's dog (probably true as well, but not generally regarded as a fact), and yet only Suarez stands to be punished. I can't help feeling that Evra is a bit of a crybaby for pressing these charges, and I am baffled by the likelihood that only Suarez will be punished for what occurred in their heated exchange. No offense, Ed, but I think your time would have been better spent preparing your preview of today's match against Fulham.you belong in the 1950s, as seen above you have a bee in your bonnet about black players not taking racial abuse with good nature and a laugh, you would be sacked for such a remark in the workplace and Suarez was always going to get serious sanctioning. This isn't holier then thou nor tribal, if Rooney did similar we would call for him to get banned and not try and perjure any legal case.
Posted 1 year ago # -
captainhormone
Moderator thing that is angering me most about this saga, is that everyone seems to be rallying around Suarez, however the real victim here is Evra...he has been vindicated and proven the real victim, yet he is been treated like a criminal
Its a fucking disgrace just typical of those scouse cunts.....nuke them I say..enough is enough
Someone should come out and speak up for Evra...enough Suarez self pitying and cock sucking...he is guilty.Not the fucking victim here.!!
Fucking raging here lads...raging
Posted 1 year ago # -
sheesh
Member
captainhormone said:
thing that is angering me most about this saga, is that everyone seems to be rallying around Suarez, however the real victim here is Evra...he has been vindicated and proven the real victim, yet he is been treated like a criminalIts a fucking disgrace just typical of those scouse cunts.....nuke them I say..enough is enough
Someone should come out and speak up for Evra...enough Suarez self pitying and cock sucking...he is guilty.Not the fucking victim here.!!
Fucking raging here lads...raging
Too right. All the headlines are about how Liverpool are angry at the decision and what Suarez's options are. What a messed up world we live in.
Posted 1 year ago # -
captainhormone
Moderator sheesh said:
Too right. All the headlines are about how Liverpool are angry at the decision and what Suarez's options are. What a messed up world we live in.Thing is Sheesh, and this is quite sad really, if you are a black player monitoring all this fallout with Suarez and Terry, it makes you think why the fuck would you speak out, when you are so vehemently classed as in the wrong..you are the victim, but even though you are innocent of any wrong doing and the victim..you get all the shit that Suarez should be getting
Liverpool FC should be fucking ashamed, and if the FA had any real bollocks I would deduct them points for their complete disregard and lack of respect at the outcome....they are so in the wrong its disgraceful....
Posted 1 year ago # -
sheesh
Member captainhormone said:
Thing is Sheesh, and this is quite sad really, if you are a black player monitoring all this fallout with Suarez and Terry, it makes you think why the fuck would you speak out, when you are so vehemently classed as in the wrong..you are the victim, but even though you are innocent of any wrong doing and the victim..you get all the shit that Suarez should be gettingLiverpool FC should be fucking ashamed, and if the FA had any real bollocks I would deduct them points for their complete disregard and lack of respect at the outcome....they are so in the wrong its disgraceful....
I think if more black players spoke up it would actually (albeit eventually) force the media to question how they report these stories. You'd need more of these players to speak up to create a movement.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator sheesh said:
I think if more black players spoke up it would actually (albeit eventually) force the media to question how they report these stories. You'd need more of these players to speak up to create a movement.It's not just the players though, is it?
Like Cap said... why aren't the press putting the boot in on Liverpools ridiculous claims of injustice?
To be fair though... this is still new news, and I expect we'll see some criticism of the Verrrmin tomorrow.
Posted 1 year ago #
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