Glen Johnson warms up before Liverpool's game against Wigan while wearing a T-shirt bearing the name and image of team-mate Luis Suárez. Photograph: Reuters
Liverpool's manager Kenny Dalglish and his players have been criticised for reacting to Luis Suárez's eight-game ban by wearing T-shirts showing their support for the striker.Suárez received the ban plus a £40,000 fine from the Football Association having been found guilty by an independent regulatory commission of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra at Anfield on 15 October. His lawyer, Alejandro Balbi, said he would appeal against the punishment, stating: "The counts of racism that were made against him are not true. He will protest his innocence right to the end."
The Uruguay international played in Liverpool's goalless draw at Wigan on Wednesday night, before which his team-mates and manager wore the Suárez T-shirts. Dalglish said: "We stand right beside him. Always have done and always will do, and that was reflected in the support he got from the stands tonight and the players beforehand."
The T-shirts provoked criticism that the gesture conflicted with football's anti-racism campaign Kick It Out, confusing its zero tolerance message.
The former Manchester United defender Paul McGrath tweeted: "As ex footballer having experienced racist comments throughout my career I was saddened to see Liverpool players wear those tshirts … I would have been much happier if they had worn anti racist tshirts."
The Blackburn striker Jason Roberts tweeted: "The stance on the Suárez issue from LFC has bemused me… are United going to print Evra shirts now????? Some issues are bigger than football."
And the former Newcastle defender and anti-racism campaigner Olivier Bernard told Sky: "I really didn't think it was fine to wear the T-shirts. I can understand the club's side of it, but in society we can't accept racism and give support to a player who has used racist words.
"It's not OK to use racist language and the message they sent out yesterday was a bit wrong. I don't mind them giving support to Mr Suárez, but I just think it's a bit wrong to wear the T-shirt because that means they have allowed racist language. I just don't understand it."
But Dalglish defended the decision, saying: "I think the boys showed their respect and admiration for Luis. It is a great reflection of the man as a character, a person and a footballer that the boys have been so supportive and so have the supporters. He has earned that, has deserved it and we will always stand beside him. They will not divide the football club, no matter how hard they try."
Liverpool's goalkeeper, Jose Reina, added: "We are all right behind him. He has our full support. We were together from the very first minute of the allegations and [the T-shirts] were the minimum we can do for him.
"He is not racist. I am 100% he is not racist and he has been accused of racism. We showed our support to Luis. We want him and everyone to know we are right behind our team-mate because he is a lovely guy and he has been crucified by some people and it is not fair. Eight games is not even close to being fair."
@'The Guardian'
No comments:
Post a Comment