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FA hand Suarez 8-match ban, £40,000 fine

Comment: 0 December 21st, 2011 by: admin

The FA have decided to hand Liverpool’s Luis Suarez an 8-match suspension, plus a hefty £40,000 fine for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

The verdict was handed out after the FA found the striker guilty of misconduct after allegedly throwing insults at Evra, some of which had to do with his race, during an October 15 match at Anfield.

‘Mr. Suarez used insulting words towards Mr. Evra during the match contrary to FA Rule E3(1).  The insulting words used by Mr. Suarez include a reference to Mr. Evra’s colour within the meaning of Rules E3(2),’ said the commission after the charges were determined following a hearing that began December 14.

‘Mr. Suarez shall be warned as to his future conduct, be suspended for eight matches covering all first team competitive matches and fined the sum of £40,000.’

The ban will be put on hold as the FA await the results of whatever appeal Liverpool might decide to lodge within a 14-day window upon receiving the written reasons for the verdict.

Suarez’s public response to the FA decision was nothing more than a call-out on Twitter, where he said ‘Today is a very difficult and painful day for me and my family.  Thanks for all the support.’

Despite the FA’s verdict, Suarez found steady support in Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who expressed his shock over the ruling.

‘Very disappointed with today’s verdict,’ Dalglish tweeted. ‘This is the time when Luis Suarez needs our full support.  Let’s not let him walk alone.’

Suarez’s club also released an official statement expressing shock, as well as doubt with regard to the apparent basis for the verdict.

‘We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone,’ said the statement.

‘No-one else on the field of play – including Evra’s own Manchester United team-mates and all the match officials – heard the alleged conversation between the two players in a crowded Kop goalmouth while a corner kick was about to be taken.’

The statement went on to declare Liverpool’s continuing belief that Suarez is innocent, and that they will ‘provide Luis with whatever support he now needs to clear his name.’

While Suarez does not deny throwing insults, his argument was more on their context.

‘There is no evidence I said anything racist to him,’ Suarez told reporters last month.

‘There were two parts of the discussion – one in Spanish, one in English.

‘I did not insult him.  It was just a way of expressing myself,’ he insisted.  ‘I called him something his team mates at Manchester call him, and even they were surprised by his reaction.’

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