As expected Luis Suarez and his team intend to appeal the players eight match ban, however doing so could lead to further complications for player and club. Liverpool have defended Suarez to the hilt as befits any servant of Anfield but pursuing this agenda further has a high probability of sullying the clubs name.
As yours truly is a Liverpool fan, I was disappointed but not surprised to see the book thrown at Suarez. There was always a hint that the escalating race row demanded an example being made and unfortunately for the Uruguayan he has caught the brunt of the firing line. Before you all jump out your seats and objurgate me for sacrificing my morals in blind support of my player, let me clarify the situation.
My main gripe is the lack of transparency shown by the F.A in elucidating the public on the decision process. Suarez admission that he used the word `Negrito` is not automatically conducive to admitting racial abuse. Many have said the cultural differences should not matter as Suarez has to obey the laws of the land. Which is valid until you consider the inexorable proliferation of foreigners. Foreigners populate most of the top flight, so surely the F.A if only out of common sense should factor in the language barrier?
The F.A will probably enlighten Suarez and his legal team on why they handed out a severe ban, but it their duty to tell us all on why the decision was made and the evidence that was utilized. The race row has seen everyone comment and whilst organizations such as Kick it out have expressed their satisfaction at the Suarez decision (which is what you would expect) others have been left bemused.
Which leads us on the appeal. Dalglish has lead the staunch defence of Suarez but there comes a point when he has to step back and accept the situation. From a football point of view a Suarez appeal could see his ban extended, and seeing as it is already eight games this could prove terminal to Liverpool champion’s league ambitions. Last nights draw against Wigan showed Liverpool are currently lacking a killer spark even with El Pistolero. His enforced absence will make this a tricky winter for the Reds.
Arguably there is a bigger issue at stake. Dalglish is Liverpool’s greatest living servant and its most fierce supporter. Therefore his main loyalty is to the club rather than his player, however important he may be. Liverpool has a rich history of giving black players a chance going back to Dalgish playing days, but defending Suarez could have the effect of souring the clubs name, engulfing it in mass criticism and the possibility of action against the club.
The King would be incandescent at rage at the notion of people questioning his clubs reputation in this area and the idea that somehow the club should be punished for attempting to defend their players. But in the cold light of day he is intelligent to accept that a protracted saga could make a bad situation worse. As his compatriot Fergie would say `you have to pick your battles`.
From a legal point of view the avenues open to Suarez seem rather limited. The option of taking this all the way to Europe is hardly feasible and as so often is the case the in Legal cases, the cost of litigation and the risks outweigh the potential rewards.
Dalglish recalcitrance and bellicose nature make it inevitable he would attempt to protect his players but perhaps this is one time he has to think of the greater good. Already Liverpool supporters have been reproached for defending Suarez ,perhaps it is best if they and their manager simply pull together and get on with the job. After all the clubs history, past and present stands to be tainted by their persistence.
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This is a matter of principle – Suarez has been found guilty by a panel of 3 mewn of questionable expertise and independence for verbally insulting Evra with reference to the colour of his skin.
Whatever the FA may say, Suarez is now branded a racist.
If what we have heard is true, Evra first insulted Suarez in Spanish and Suarez responded reflexively in Spanish (the linguistic expression of his culture).
Extraordinarily the FA have effectively branded hispaic culture and its liguistic expression racist.
This should be taken to the European Court of Justice where all factots can be examined including the make-up of the FA (Man Utd chairman on the FA board etc.) and, of course, the impartiality of the 3 man panel and who selected it.
The FA has overstepped its authority and deserves a thorough, forensic examination of its integrity en route to clearing Suarez and hispanic people’s good name.
Fully agree with Billy & also note that when the referee booked Evra his response was “You’re only booking me because I’m black”. Going on the F.A.’s logic shouldn’t the referee be banned for 8 games as Evra considered the booking rascist!
Indeed Scouse Billy, in fact I wonder if the question “Is Suarez’s appeal more trouble than it’s worth?” could be read as “Is corruption in the FA so deep-rooted that however just his case, Suarez’s appeal will not be given a fair hearing?” Somewhere there will be evidence of THEIR cheating – just hope Glenn Mulcaire has some Howard Webb text messages to help the case along.
The F.A. and Evra have both stated that they do not believe Suarez is a racist, Liverpool, it’s staff and players have all come out in support of him as have other managers and players from teams he has played for, yet he has been branded as a racist because of the F.A’s decision are you saying that he should roll over and accept it, if everybody was like that then people who have been wrongfully imprisoned would just say fair enough your wrong but I will just sit here in prison, In my opinion Suarez and Evra said things to each other in Spanish but Suarez has been tried in English and Evra has escaped anything because Suarez did not make a complaint about what was said to him,
It all depends on the evidence. Dalglish has seen the entire case from start to finish, I assume has been privy to any evidence out there, and he certainly wouldn’t have put the club’s name behind Suarez if there was even a modicum of suspicion that he might actually be guilty of racism.
Kenny knows too that he has to pick his battles, and clearly he feels this one is eminently winnable. In making that assessment, he implicitly expresses faith that justice will somehow prevail in the end. Can’t fault him for that.
Even though the whole media frenzy currently surrounds Suarez, the real pressure is on the FA. They need to answer questions as to how they arrived at such a conclusion, what evidence has been presented (if any), and why they’re conveniently ignoring Evra’s unambiguously racial provocation towards Suarez while throwing the book at the latter for his response.
The FA is a disgrace and fans of Manchester United. As for Evra, he is a crying wolf