Self Destruction

 

Before the hotly anticipated game between Liverpool and Manchester United, Alex Ferguson called for both sets of supporters to remember all that was good about the fixture. United fans had been 'banned' for their poor behaviour and the chanting from both sets of fans has long since crossed a line. 

 

Despite the focus being on the faceless masses in the stadium - this was a game that proved that society's ills are not confined to reckless youths on city streets. Some of football's idols prove that no matter how many millions they are paid - you cannot take the ugly side out of their inner core. 

And now for the dilemma. Something disgusting happened on Saturday. Either a racist or a false victim emerged from the field hoping make some kind of gain from a boring draw.  Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez have a bigger fight on their hands than a simple football game. And so we await the verdict that will no doubt return unanswered. 

Neither side will be able to make a case for having a 'good' previous character.

 

"I can only say that I have always respected and respect everybody.

 

"We are all the same. I go to the field with the maximum illusion of a little child who enjoys what he does, not to create conflicts."

 

So begins the defence of Suarez following Evra's claims that he was racially abused by the player several times during the match on Saturday.

 

Viewers saw the two players spoken to by the referee after which Suarez offered to befriend Evra, but his arm was pushed aside. Shortly afterwards Evra was shown a yellow card.

 

Later in the game Liverpool were awarded a disputed free-kick against Rio Ferdinand, from which they scored, and the first player to wave an imaginary card at the referee was Luis Suarez. Ferdinand had earlier been incensed when booked for a tackle on Luis Suarez.

 

Whilst undoubtably a very skilful player and is obviously innocent until proven guilty,he has a history of anything but 'respect' to his fellow footballers.

 

A week earlier, in the Merseyside derby, he had a part to play in the sending off of Rodwell after writhing on the ground following a supposed tackle and limping gingerly from the pitch. Later in the game Suarez offered his hand to Phil Jagielka after fouling him, only for Jagielka to to push his hand aside.

 

Following his last minute sending off against Ghana in 2010, Suarez said "the 'Hand Of God' now belongs to me" after his goal-line handball helped his country reach the World Cup semi-finals. He was labelled a cheat and a villain by the Ghana squad.

 

In 2008-2009 he was suspended for both fighting with a team mate and for receiving 7 yellow cards during the season.

 

In 2010-2011 season he received a ban for 7 games and branded 'the Cannibal of Ajax' for biting the shoulder of a PSV player during a game.

 

None of the above makes a man a racist. 

Evra is not without his own problematical history.

 

In 2006 Evra complained that he was racially abused by Liverpool player Steve Finnan, a charge that was never proven.

 

In 2007,  Evra was caught up in an altercation with a Chelsea groundsman and was charged with improper conduct by the FA. Several members of the Manchester United staff supported Evra's appeal, stating that he had been racially abused. He was later given a 4 match ban and fined £15,000.

 

Perhaps Evra could make more of stand. If racially abused on the pitch then ... walk off. Highlight the disgust of the situation and make a point of something that has no place in football or society. Lets face it ... plenty have taken stronger stands than an after the match complaint to a referee. 

 It is not as if the Manchester United captain is a shrinking violet. The outspoken Evra is never frightened to speak his mind. Even when it can spark protests that wreck his own country's World Cup bid in 2010.

 

If the FA are serious about a 'Respect Campaign' - this is an issue that should not be allowed to disappear without every stone being unturned to get to the bottom of it.