The Guardian has the full story, and yes, it comes down to an awkward culture clash:
Both players gave evidence to a three-man panel, led by Paul Goulding QC, as did the Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, who has vigorously defended the Uruguay player since the allegation was made by Evra to the French television station Canal Plus after the game. Liverpool’s defence involved arguing that the word “negro” does not necessarily have racist connotations in Uruguay. Evra said that was unacceptable and that Suárez was being offensive as the pair clashed repeatedly in the second half at Anfield.
May the deeply partisan fan debate begin. Just leave me out of it.
UPDATE: I’ll leave it to you to decide whether this was the wisest of statements in response from Liverpool FC.
All insightful commentary aside…this is just great, just in time for Christmas at my Uruguayan in-laws where I’ll be cornered by every male over 40 and repeatedly yelled at (you know since I was born in North York) about how stupid England is…thanks!
Now onto to the random comments that popped in my head:
Time for Carroll to step up.
Good for Citeh before the CC ties.
What does Terry miss then? oh wait…
And some others that I’m just not adding right now.
BOLLOCKS!
Evra is a douche-bag and made a meal out of something that is simply a mis-communication. Suarez may be a lot of things, but when he’s grown up using a term and it’s deemed culturally acceptable how is he to know any better when he’s been in another country for less then a year? He tried to apologize for the tackle during the match, but Evra knew he was getting beat left, right and centre, and wanted to ONCE AGAIN, call racism on a player.
He’s done it in the past and was proven to be lying, and the one time he knew he could get away with it he makes a huge deal out of something that is simply a cultural difference.
Also there are reports that Evra used a derogatory term for South Americans when telling Suarez to not touch him (when Suarez was trying to apologize for the argument). But you won’t see Evra suspended.
When it took THIS long to sort out, it obviously wasn’t a CLEAR use of racist language so I think the FA are just using Suarez as a scapegoat for their incompetence and unwillingness to admit that Evra is just being an over-sensitive twat.
If you weren’t biased I think you will find that the actual douchebag is Suarez. Seriously, have you ever watcehd him play?
Yeah I have watched him play, and I would prob hate him if he wasn’t on my team. I readily admit that.
But the FA had NO concrete proof and it show’s by the length of time and lack of a reasonable explanation of the reasons behind the suspension.
Evra got run ragged by Suarez in that match, and Evra used a CULTURAL mis-communication to overshadow his own horrendous performance in that match.
Evra has cried wolf how many times before about racism, that makes HIM a douche bag in my book.
What does the performance of Evra on the pitch have to do with the fact that Suarez used a racially offensive slur?? There is no room for racism in football and there has to be punishment for people who use such language.
Obviously there is no room for racism in football. The issue is that the claim made by Suarez to Evra does not have a racial meaning. Also, I’m wondering where Evra’s ban is for making a derogatory racial reference to suarez when suarez was trying to apologize?
Suarez has played football in Europe for something like 4 years, so the defence of cultural differences is silly.
And once again, because some people can’t seem to follow Evra’s supposed prior racism claims; this ordeal with Suarez is the FIRST TIME Evra has personally pursued a racism claim, the other two instances were brought forth by, firstly, a fan watching on tv who claimed Evra was racially abused (Evra never made a complaint). In the other instance, the situation with the Chelsea groundsman, the complaint of racial abuse was made by members of United’s coaching staff, not Evra.
When both The FA & Patrice Evra have BOTH stated that they don’t think Luis Suarez is a racist why is he being portrayed as one and suspended for racist language?
There is a difference between “being racist” and using racist language. The latter is unacceptable regardless of if the former applies on not.
The reason for suspending someone for using racist language should be obvious.
Because he still made a racist statement. How is this so hard?
So…given that there is actual evidence against John Terry, I’m expecting aleast a 15 match ban….oh wait he’s english. The FA is a disgrace
How is cultural differences a silly defence?
Granted he played in Ajax for however long he did, but does that mean he’s become completely enamoured in European culture and meanings of slang terms and so forth?
I’ve lived in Canada for 20 odd years and still don’t fully understand some of the subtle cultural differences between people who live around me.
But I’ll tell you when I speak Punjabi, there are words that may sound rude if people don’t understand that I’m speaking a different language and those words don’t mean the same thing in English as they do in Punjabi.
suarez’s grandfather was black, but i guess they forgot to mention that. im sure this would happen, if john terry was in his place. oh, wait.
Suarez said ‘negrito’ didn’t he? Which translates to ‘black’ in english. Not racist. I like how Evra doesn’t mind when his teammates call him that but when someone else does… he cries and makes a huge deal out of it. The FA is ridiculous. So does this mean Terry will get an even longer suspension? Considering the fact that there is actually evidence of what he said as opposed to the Suarez-Evra incident
So in a sporting environment when you call someone black that is not considered racist? How do you fugure….? I am sure Suarez did not mean to use “black” aagainst “Evra” in an I love you kind of way. Even more so why would you use the word black if not reffering to the color of Evra’s skin? COME ON MAN!
^ bingo. I’ve seen people use the word before and it’s not paid as a complement.
The sad thing is the bar for racism is set so low people don’t understand what they are doing. If Suarez needs a reminder, a lighter wallet and some splinters from sitting on the sidelines should help.
Evra’s teammates call him that btw. He heard it from them. Should they all be banned also then?
they call him black? good one.
they call him negrito or negro, not “BLACK”.
I have a pretty hard time believing that on any level and if they do call him that they should no better.
Racism has no place in football whatsoever. If the FA decided to suspend Suarez 8 games then they obviously had grounds to do so. All of the above excuses are as pathetic as the topic of racism in football. This is the 21st century and all of this has absolutely no place in any work place or any walk of life around the world, sadly is does. If this specific term is not considered racist in Uruguay then maybe it is time for Uruguay to get with the times as well.
Interested to see how the Terry incident plays out and to see if the English factor plays a part in the decision.
The problem is it isn’t OBVIOUS as to why they suspended him for that length of time. It’s a controversial decision because it is, essentially, the word of one person versus the word of another.
Racism has NO place in any walk of life I agree with that. But context needs to be taken into account in this situation. No sane person would make a comment with racially derogatory sentiments when they themselves have members of that particular race in their own family.
football players are not sane, they grow up in the poor places of the world in broken and lower class families. *soccernomics
so if footballer’s are not sane people then why hold them up to the same standards as regular people?
Because the law doesn’t exist on a sliding scale. If we held society up to the standard of the dumbest person in the room we’d all be living in caves.
The FA is a joke. Suarez got banned without any evidence. And Terry is still playing? Even with the video evidence. You’re just an angry little Utd fan who fears facing Suarez. I don’t condone racism btw. 8 games is too much. I have no problem with disciplinary action against him if there’s evidence or if what he said was really racist.
The FA isn’t looking at the Terry case until the police investigation is concluded.
Football is played with 11 men on the pitch and i dont think Utd fear a single player like Suarez….and yea Terry will get his eventually. Not really angry at all to be honest you do however sound very bitter.
I probably am. I’m done. This subject is too touchy to keep on arguing. I guess Terry is pretty screwed, huh?
why Terry is escaped..because he is England captain…FA please be fair…the word suarez use in not so bad….c’mon FA…BPL is the greatest league in the world.but ur decision make it rubbish…..
Yeah, looks like he’s really “escaped”…. did you read today’s headlines?
why is there a need for video evidence when both the player and his manager confirmed he used a racially offensive word against Evra in the hearing???
As a Liverpool supporter I am obviously disappointed to lose far and away our best player for so many games, but as a decent person must admit it is fair and just. The honest truth is, all the superficial measures that have been made by FIFA and the FA with the Kick it Out campaign, although nice gestures, simply don’t get results like huge bans and fines will do.
Kick it out has been around for what a decade now? And yet I feel more progess has been made simply through this Suarez ban, and what surely will be Terry’s inevitable ban; simply via the discussion they have generated. I liken this to Brendan Shanahan’s work in the NHL, its nice to say you want to rid hockey of headshots and the like, but actions speak louder than words and lengthy suspensions are sending clearer messages.
Only thing for me (with my Liverpool hat on) is that I’m disappointed that there will be such a delay in any Terry ban, as the FA is waiting for his court case to come to a verdict which won’t be until next year as he isn’t even due in court until February. Aside from that, fine with the Suarez ban, throw the book at Terry too.
By the way, I feel a serious precedent has been set that you CAN indeed be punished for what you say on a pitch. Question for me is where do you now draw the line? Shouldn’t players also be punished for homophobic slurs and things of such a nature? Would be interesting to see as every week you can see some player shouting f*g or something of the like.