Aporkalypse
Full Member
liverpool fans on twitter now have the hashtag #freesuarez. Can this get any worse?
Placing it alongside #JFT96?
liverpool fans on twitter now have the hashtag #freesuarez. Can this get any worse?
Video: Extract from 2010 documentary featuring Luis Suarez in South Africa Luis Suarez: South Africa Documentary (2010) - YouTube
Tweeted via the club's official account.
Err no?
Wait, what?! Why on earth would the match be cancelled? If they want to wear shirts with Saurez's name on it in the warm-up, so be it, let them look like idiots. That's no reason to call off the match, and then award the other team the win. That's insane. Of course he wouldn't be allowed to do it!
It is thoroughly depressing to see Liverpool FC get in on the act with its incredible reaction to the news Luis Suarez has been banned for eight matches after being found guilty (pending appeal - ED is going to be using those words a lot this morning) of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Liverpool's statement last night was truly extraordinary in both its tone and content, taking furious shots at Evra and the FA.
Their man has been found guilty of a very serious offence, so they might just want to wind their necks in a little bit.
Support Suarez, by all means. Appeal, as you have a right to do. But show some restraint and some dignity. Act in a manner befitting a club of Liverpool's stature.
As the statement itself pointed out, Liverpool have done more than their share to combat injustice and discrimination.
That is why it is so uncomfortable to see them in such a frenzy, and to see Kenny Dalglish use the phrase forever associated with the club in his message of support: 'Let's not let him walk alone.'
Liverpool should think very carefully before attempting to turn Suarez into a great, modern-day martyr.
They might want to say: "Much as we love Luis, and much as he's our best player, and much as his offence came against our most hated rivals, the FA thinks he has committed a very serious breach of discipline and we should probably reflect that."
There is so much in Liverpool's statement that can be picked apart, but ED will focus on just a few bits:
"It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations."
This is a disgrace. The mention of "prior unfounded accusations" refers to two other cases in which claims of racial abuse against Evra have been made.
To paraphrase - Evra plays the race card.
The thing is, on neither occasion did Evra make the accusation. In 2006, a deaf fan claimed to lip-read abuse of Evra by Steve Finnan, and in 2008 United coaches Mike Phelan and Richard Hartis said they heard a Chelsea groundsman insult Evra.
Neither claim was proven. And neither claim was made by Evra. This point is outlined in this excellent blog post (yes, it's a United blog, but it makes a very good point).
For Liverpool to themselves make a false claim about Evra is lamentable.
"It is key to note that Patrice Evra himself in his written statement in this case said 'I don't think that Luis Suarez is racist'. The FA in their opening remarks accepted that Luis Suarez was not racist."
It is not key. It is irrelevant.
It does make sense. It costs time and money as a second review from a second panel needs to take place. With no risk of another fine, every single ban would be appealed or at best, the appeal system would be used frivolously as a tactic to buy a player time in order to select what games the player misses.
Just as long as they leave their white pillowcases at home.They'll all be bringing their white bedsheets from home.
Whatever the outcome, i personally have a feeling Suarez is not a racist, not that I have any specific reason for thinking so. I just think he was a little ignorant in going too far to wind Evra up during the game and thinking the little race jibes wouldn't have been taken so seriously.
I think he should be left alone to have his ban that have his slate wiped clean, ie, it would be unfair to label him "racist" and give him grief for the rest of his career.
Should just give him his ban then stop talking about this episode altogether.
Whatever the outcome, i personally have a feeling Suarez is not a racist, not that I have any specific reason for thinking so. I just think he was a little ignorant in going too far to wind Evra up during the game and thinking the little race jibes wouldn't have been taken so seriously.
THAT is racism!!!! It does not come ins shades. To invoke a negative response from somebody because of their skin colour is fundamentally racist.
Unless you have ever felt the slight or been on the end of it, you will never realise.
Are all people from Uruguay are so stupid like Poyet, Lugano .....?Uruguay captain Diego Lugano has backed national team-mate Luis Suarez after his Football Association punishment for racially abusing Patrice Evra.
"I can't believe it. They're making a big mistake," Lugano said.
"Luis is a victim. I can't understand how a player like Evra can do this. He is breaking the codes of football."
"We all know what kind of person Luis is and the values he has," added Paris St Germain defender Lugano on his personal website.
"It's obvious that in England there's a racism problem they're trying to eradicate. That's good but this sentence has no solid arguments."
BBC Sport - Uruguay captain Diego Lugano backs Luis Suarez after racism ban
Just out of curiosity, have we defined racism at all in this thread? It would be a shame if it hasn't. Especially with something this serious.
Are all people from Uruguay are so stupid like Poyet, Lugano .....?
Are all people from Uruguay are so stupid like Poyet, Lugano .....?
Are all people from Uruguay are so stupid like Poyet, Lugano .....?
"Exaggerated, absurd and out of place." That was the verdict of Uruguay's national director of sport as Luis Suárez's eight-game ban became a matter of state. Players, coaches, media and the government have come out in support of the Liverpool striker, while the national football federation has offered legal backing through the Uruguayan embassy in London. The striker Sebastián Abreu insisted that Suárez has "3 million Uruguayans behind him" and the former international Richard Morales, who is black, insisted: "[Patrice] Evra should not play at being Padre Popelka." Father Ernesto Popelka is a revered former footballer, priest and psychologist.
"This [ban] leaves a bad feeling," said Ernesto Irureta, the national director of sport. "What is happening in Europe is a product of their [wider] problems, not of what happens between players – and one of those is racism. That reflects a lack of values in society. We have a country with [racial] differences but it is a long way from those in the Old Continent [Europe]. Suárez may act with words or gestures in certain moments but this ban is exaggerated, absurd and out of place."
Celso Otero, assistant to the Uruguay coach, Oscar Tabárez, described the ban as "excessive" and sought to reassure Suárez that his position with the national team "has not changed in the slightest". The captain, Diego Lugano, said: "I cannot believe it: this is a huge error that is being made. Obviously in England there is a problem with racism and they are trying to eradicate it, which is good, but this [ban] has no solid base. Luis is a victim." The national football association reiterated its "total solidarity and support" for Suárez.
A failure to allow for different cultural interpretations was at the heart of much of the criticism in a country where one newspaper ran with a huge front-page headline that simply said: "Irrational". Uruguayans do not see the use of "negro" or "negrito" to be offensive at all and Marcelo Tejera, who played for Southampton, bemoaned "a campaign to push [Suárez] out to another league".
"They [Uruguay and England] are different cultures. For us [what was said] is normal and it doesn't affect you," said Morales. "They're making a drama out of something that for us is entirely natural. But England is totally different. The only thing [Suárez] could have got wrong is not knowing that. And in any case, you have to be sure whether or not [Suárez] actually said it. Evra shouldn't play at being Father Popelka, because he's nothing like him.
"Luis is a victim. I can't understand how a player like Evra can do this. He is breaking the codes of football."
THAT is racism!!!! It does not come ins shades. To invoke a negative response from somebody because of their skin colour is fundamentally racist.
Luis Suarez is our teammate and our friend and as a group of players we are shocked and angered that he has been found guilty by the FA.
We totally support Luis and we want the world to know that. We know he is not racist.
We are a squad of many different nationalities and backgrounds. All of us support the Club's commitment to fighting racism. All of us accept there is no place in the game for any form of discrimination. As a group of players we totally support the Kick it Out Campaign.
We have lived, trained and played with Luis for almost 12 months and we don't recognise the way he has been portrayed. We will continue to support Luis through this difficult period, and as a popular and respected friend of all his teammates, he will not walk alone.
I'm not certain but I don't think it's up to Caftards to define racism.
Things that statement does wrong.
1. Refuses to accept or respect the decision of an independent inquiry. - This is the least of its crimes, and probably expected. Most Liverpool fans will see this as bullishly and passionately standing up for themselves. Most other clubs would've probably added at least a conciliatory "we respect this, but disagree" not to mention be at pains to defend a player found guilty of racist abuse a little less fervently & bit more diplomatically...If only for PRs sake...But it's a minor issue compared to what else it does wrong.
2. Ignoring the actual charge - Which was of using racially motivated/abusive language (in this case "negrito" or "negro") in one instance, which he's allegedly admitted, and instead mounted a long and rambling defence of the player via his background and history in an attempt to clear his name of a wider accusation. This is a bit like trying to fight a drink driving charge by saying you once took your mate's keys away when he was drunk. It's sort of not really relevant to the charge that's been brought.
3. Accusing Patrice Evra of making previous unfounded accusations - From a club issued statement, this is a massive clanger. Especially considering this myth was brought up and dispelled several times during the build up to this decision.
4. Insinuating Patrice Evra's statement is not to be trusted...And then using it to bolster the claim that Suarez is not a racist. Also again failing to acknowledge the actual charge against him in favor of the wider defence of his character.
5. Insinuating the blame of, and inciting a hatred of Patrice Evra amongst it's already riled fanbase - Attempting to villify the supposedly abused player in an attempt at a straw man argument based mainly on an incorrect promotion of previous allegations he hadn't made is a hugely irresponsible thing for a club to "officially" do. It also draws the line in the sand between the two clubs and it's fans. It's inflammatory at best, dangerous at worst.
6. Upholding the stereotype of Liverpool & it's fans - Whatever jokes you might make about scousers, it's always unfair to stereotype an entire section of people. The self pity city victim mentality image of Liverpool is really not helped by a club statement that complains everything is completely unfair and tries to blame it on someone else. Especially in such a delicate topic such as this.
7. Making diplomacy and damage limitation far harder - Bullishness may appeal to riled up fans, but practically makes the situation far harder for all concerned. It certainly leaves them open to looking very stupid if they don't get their way and they may even end up making his ban longer.
I'm sure there are more tbh...
Liverpool players issue a joint statement! WTF......
"Luis Suarez is our teammate and our friend and as a group of players we are shocked and angered that he has been found guilty by the FA.
We totally support Luis and we want the world to know that. We know he is not racist.
We are a squad of many different nationalities and backgrounds. All of us support the Club's commitment to fighting racism. All of us accept there is no place in the game for any form of discrimination. As a group of players we totally support the Kick it Out Campaign.
We have lived, trained and played with Luis for almost 12 months and we don't recognise the way he has been portrayed. We will continue to support Luis through this difficult period, and as a popular and respected friend of all his teammates, he will not walk alone."