KENNY DALGLISH FANNED the flames of the Luis Suarez racism row again yesterday evening when he accused the FA’s independent commission of obscuring a number of crucial details in their judgement on the case.
Suarez last night began his eight-game ban for using the term “negro” towards Patrice Evra, waiving his right to appeal just an hour before Liverpool lined out in a 3-0 defeat away to Manchester City.
In a pair of statements released shortly before kick-off, Liverpool and Suarez continued to deny all wrongdoing, with the club accusing the the three-man panel of constructing “a highly subjective case against Luis Suarez based on an accusation that was ultimately unsubstantiated” while Suarez said that he would “carry out the suspension with the resignation of someone who hasn’t done anything wrong.”
And speaking to reporters after the defeat, Dalglish defended Liverpool’s incredulous response and hinted that the club were aware of a number of important facts not in the public domain.
“There’s a lot of things we’d like to say and a lot we could say but we would only get ourselves in trouble,” Dalglish said.
“We are not trying to be evasive … well, we are being evasive because we don’t like getting ourselves in trouble. But we know what has gone on.
We know what is not in the report and that’s important for us. So without me getting ourselves in trouble, I think that’s it finished.
Criticism
Liverpool have come in for strong criticism for the manner in which they are handling the fallout from the FA’s judgement, including the players’ decision to wear t-shirts in support of Suarez as they warmed up ahead of the 0-0 draw against Wigan on 21 December.
But Dalglish insisted last night that the show of solidarity had been the right decision, saying that it was “dangerous” for people to judge the case without knowing all of the facts.
“It was a fabulous statement to make visually of their support for a guy who is endeared in the dressing room, one of their closest friends in the dressing room, and all of his friends in the dressing room can speak up adequately and perfectly well for him.
“And 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.”
As it stands, Suarez will be eligible to play again when Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on 11 February, though he could return to action sooner if Liverpool win or draw their FA Cup Third Round tie against Oldham on Friday.
