Wow!! That was my reaction when I heard the eight game ban and £40,000 fine Liverpool ’s Luis Suarez received by the FA of being found guilty for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. A few people have asked me why I have not given my opinion on the whole episode which dates back to mid-October when the initial incident occurred. Well in such a delicate matter and not knowing the full facts, such a situation really needs a full investigation before passing a viewpoint. Plus what further muddied the waters were the counter arguments both players gave of their version of events.
From a personal point of view and before the FA found Suarez guilty of racist comments, I found myself asking this question in pondering what to accept as true. Do I believe Luis Suarez is capable of doing what he had been alleged to have done? Possibly yes. Why some may ask? Well because the talented Uruguayan is what could be construed as a spiky character, who is no stranger to controversy and could mentally at least in my mind envisage him doing what he stood to be accused of. However, could I see Patrice Evra using the serious and highly sensitive issue of racial mistreatment to prove a point, and get one over on an opponent who has riled him up or got the better of him? Then the answer would be yes also. I could see this course occurring for the similar reasons for what I gave regarding Luis Suarez, and that being Evra has got that prickly nature in his locker.
Even though Evra was proven to be correct and Suarez had a case to answer after the FA's investigation, it saddens me that coming from a similar ethnic origin as Patrice Evra, I really was not sure if what he was saying had occurred and if this was a case of him just being vengeful. I am in no way saying that claims of discrimination should be down to one's personal character, but it is a real shame that today’s footballer in most cases seem to lack a moral code or hold faint fibres of decency or respect. So when situations like this occur, for me at least it is very hard to eliminate the personal conduct of those who we cheer for on the field, and have to bring in the case of the boy who cried wolf when assessing such a serious matter.
This whole incident is clearly bigger than sport and goes beyond the parameters of football. Since the punishment was announced, those who since turned this situation into a Liverpool-Manchester United thing, or a Alex Ferguson influence, comments are said in the heat of a game but not genuinely meant, or how will Liverpool as a team cope with the possible loss of their newly installed talisman, or Luis Suarez is simply not a racist person are missing the point entirely. Putting my Liverpool football bias on the back-burner and describing myself primarily as someone who absolutely despises inequity of any kind. This includes discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, colour, creed, cultural background or any situation where one is intolerant of another human being, if the English football authorities have found Luis Suarez guilty of abuse based on race than the punishment fits the crime.
From what is being said, Suarez’s case of defence is founded on him using a term/s that is acceptable in his native homeland and pleading a case of ignorance. In this framework I do not believe ignorance is any sort of plausible excuse to shield Luis Suarez from this punishment. He has played in Europe for quite some considerable amount of time, and more importantly claiming lack of knowledge for the want of a better term should not be used as justification where racism is involved. I am pleased that time was taken to check the facts, and a recognised football authority took such a hard stance on review in dealing against racism in football, and racism as a whole.
For far too long the sport’s respective governing bodies and authorities, have turned a blind eye from being proactive in tackling prejudice in the beautiful game, and merely look to sweep the whole issue under the carpet. You only have to look at past incidents when former Spanish coach Luis Aragones was fined a laughable £2,060 by the Spanish Football Federation for racist remarks Aragones made about Thierry Henry in 2004. Countless times reports are given of certain black players in the England squad being subjected to chants when playing international games in certain parts of Europe , yet authorities doing very little in terms of punishment or trying to eradicate the problem. It really is of no surprise that such timid actions are taken when the leader of the sport’s governing body, FIFA President Sepp Blatter, comes out with outrageous comments that there is no racism on the field of play, and that racist abuse between players on the pitch should be settled by a handshake.
The only positive thing about this particular incident which strangely occurred during the month of October in which Britain celebrates Black History Month, and the Kick It Out campaign and message of Let's Kick Racism Out of Football is very visable, shows as a society and as football admirers both in and out of the game there is still work to be done. In no way do I feel racism is rife in English football particularly when compared to the dark days of the 70’s and 80’s, when I can remember images of my footballing hero John Barnes backhealing a banana being thrown at him by the crowd. But in no way should racism or discrimination for that matter be seen as an existence confined to yesteryear. As a nation I do feel England
Look out for part two in the coming days but to end on a more lighter note, I do wish everyone a happy holidays!
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This case isn't over due to the appeal and I'd rather make a proper judgement once I know EXACTLY what was said to Evra.
However, how can one support a "convicted" racist as a hero once the ban is over.
The team mates have openly supported him probably because they don't believe he is a racist, (maybe they too don't know all the facts). The "lost in translation" excuse is probably their reasoning despite being flimsy at best.
I too remember the Barnes incident. It was against Everton at Goodison and I was listening to the match on the radio and every time Barnes touched the ball you could hear monkey noises by the Evertonians. The BBC commentators made no reference to this as they thought it best to ignore it as if it would go away rather than publicaly condemn the Everton fans. The famous photograph in the following day's newspapers condemned not only the Everton fans but also the gutless BBC.
Luckily, in this country at least, we have come a long way so the FA (unlike FIFA and UEFA) are right to squash any potential sign of racism re-appearing, meaning considering the recorded evidence against him, John Terry will probably be publicly hanged (not had one of those since 1868).
However, Francis I leave you with this poser; Would, or should I say could, any black player join Liverpool while Suarez is still at the club?
Ahh Mr Serpa you raise a great question sire. Personally, I think the question some potential players may ask is this. Could they play for a club that can openly and publically support a player found guilty of racist abuse after a lenghty and intensive investigation?
Perhaps my intial opinion may be someone looking through rose-tinted glasses but I do not think it will deter differing ethnic origins to play for the club, Suarez or nor Suarez. The issue is we are all one race. Racial groups staying away from each other or segregating from each other only strenghtens the existance of racism and racial divides.
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