*Official* English Football Season 2011-12

[GIMH]

Must admit I've not been following carefully but nonetheless I'll be very surprised to see Terry get eight

Wonder if Liverpool will appeal

Having read their statement I imagine they will. In fact it sounds like they are considering legal action.

 

[The Sean]

Can't imagine Liverpool not appealing, particularly if they're convinced they can play the cultural misunderstanding card.

Like others have said, Terry hasn't actually been up yet. Which is strange given that it happened before Suarez IIRC and he was actually caught on camera saying it. Would love him to get at least what Suarez got, but I bet he doesn't.

 

[sledger]

Must admit I've not been following carefully but nonetheless I'll be very surprised to see Terry get eight

Wonder if Liverpool will appeal

Tbh if they've handed down a ban of this duration, there surely must be some sort of compelling evidence. I find it hard to believe that the FA (as incompetent as they are) would have down such a severe ban without having something that can at least be construed as compelling evidence. This is a pretty unprecedented move. They must have been aware of the possibility of a Liverpool appeal and wouldn't have imposed this sort of ban unless they were confident of making it stick. If it gets overturned or reduced on appeal they'll look even more stupid than most people consider them to be already.

 

[GIMH]

Having read their statement I imagine they will. In fact it sounds like they are considering legal action.

Liverpool Football Club is very surprised and disappointed with the decision of the Football Association Commission to find Luis Suarez guilty of the charges against him.

We look forward to the publication of the Commission's Judgment. We will study the detailed reasons of the Commission once they become available, but reserve our right to appeal or take any other course of action we feel appropriate with regards to this situation.

We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone when no-one else on the field of play - including Evra's own Manchester United teammates and all the match officials - heard the alleged conversation between the two players in a crowded Kop goalmouth while a corner kick was about to be taken.

The Club takes extremely seriously the fight against all forms of discrimination and has a long and successful track record in work relating to anti-racist activity and social inclusion. We remain committed to this ideal and equality for all, irrespective of a person's background.

LFC considers racism in any form to be unacceptable - without compromise. It is our strong held belief, having gone over the facts of the case, that Luis Suarez did not commit any racist act. It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations.

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.

Luis himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was black. He has been personally involved since the 2010 World Cup in a charitable project which uses sport to encourage solidarity amongst people of different backgrounds with the central theme that the colour of a person's skin does not matter; they can all play together as a team.

He has played with black players and mixed with their families whilst with the Uruguay national side and was Captain at Ajax Amsterdam of a team with a proud multi-cultural profile, many of whom became good friends.

It seems incredible to us that a player of mixed heritage should be accused and found guilty in the way he has based on the evidence presented. We do not recognise the way in which Luis Suarez has been characterised.

It appears to us that the FA were determined to bring charges against Luis Suarez, even before interviewing him at the beginning of November. Nothing we have heard in the course of the hearing has changed our view that Luis Suarez is innocent of the charges brought against him and we will provide Luis with whatever support he now needs to clear his name.

We would also like to know when the FA intend to charge Patrice Evra with making abusive remarks to an opponent after he admitted himself in his evidence to insulting Luis Suarez in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. Luis, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult.

 

[The Sean]

Liverpool's statement breathtaking in its petulance. The first two paragraphs are all they needed to say.

And referring to Evra's previous isn't just petulant, it's wrong - as far as I know, in the past incidents involving Evra it has been other parties actually making the accusations.

 

[sledger]

Liverpool Football Club is very surprised and disappointed with the decision of the Football Association Commission to find Luis Suarez guilty of the charges against him.

We look forward to the publication of the Commission's Judgment. We will study the detailed reasons of the Commission once they become available, but reserve our right to appeal or take any other course of action we feel appropriate with regards to this situation.

We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone when no-one else on the field of play - including Evra's own Manchester United teammates and all the match officials - heard the alleged conversation between the two players in a crowded Kop goalmouth while a corner kick was about to be taken.

The Club takes extremely seriously the fight against all forms of discrimination and has a long and successful track record in work relating to anti-racist activity and social inclusion. We remain committed to this ideal and equality for all, irrespective of a person's background.

LFC considers racism in any form to be unacceptable - without compromise. It is our strong held belief, having gone over the facts of the case, that Luis Suarez did not commit any racist act. It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations.

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.

Luis himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was black. He has been personally involved since the 2010 World Cup in a charitable project which uses sport to encourage solidarity amongst people of different backgrounds with the central theme that the colour of a person's skin does not matter; they can all play together as a team.

He has played with black players and mixed with their families whilst with the Uruguay national side and was Captain at Ajax Amsterdam of a team with a proud multi-cultural profile, many of whom became good friends.

It seems incredible to us that a player of mixed heritage should be accused and found guilty in the way he has based on the evidence presented. We do not recognise the way in which Luis Suarez has been characterised.

It appears to us that the FA were determined to bring charges against Luis Suarez, even before interviewing him at the beginning of November. Nothing we have heard in the course of the hearing has changed our view that Luis Suarez is innocent of the charges brought against him and we will provide Luis with whatever support he now needs to clear his name.

We would also like to know when the FA intend to charge Patrice Evra with making abusive remarks to an opponent after he admitted himself in his evidence to insulting Luis Suarez in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. Luis, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult.

The thing is, I don't for one moment that Suarez is actually racist. But the fact of the matter is, if he said what he did, he really needs to be held accountable for it. He may have said what he is accused of saying in the heat of the moment, but that is no excuse. This statement does not say anything to rebut the accusation of him using a racist term in this particular incident other than the below, which is hardly convincing.

We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone when no-one else on the field of play - including Evra's own Manchester United teammates and all the match officials - heard the alleged conversation between the two players in a crowded Kop goalmouth while a corner kick was about to be taken.

They can bang on all they like about he played with black players and how he is from a mixed race family or whatever, it's sheer irrelevance and seems very poorly thought out. "A player from a mixed race family? How on earth could be possibly ever hold racist views?"

 

[Neil Pickup]

This is going to run. And run.

EDIT: There do seem to be an awful lot of echoes of monkeygate.

 

[Furball]

I'm assuming part of the rationale for banning Suarez for 8 games is because he's a despicable ****.

 

[sledger]

Liverpool's statement breathtaking in its petulance. The first two paragraphs are all they needed to say.

And referring to Evra's previous isn't just petulant, it's wrong - as far as I know, in the past incidents involving Evra it has been other parties actually making the accusations.

Yeah, it's almost comical to be honest. Especially this part:

We would also like to know when the FA intend to charge Patrice Evra with making abusive remarks to an opponent after he admitted himself in his evidence to insulting Luis Suarez in Spanish in the most objectionable of terms. Luis, to his credit, actually told the FA he had not heard the insult.

How very noble of him.

 

[GIMH]

Yeah that's for sure. (@Pickup)

 

[Magrat Garlick]

And referring to Evra's previous isn't just petulant, it's wrong - as far as I know, in the past incidents involving Evra it has been other parties actually making the accusations.

Do they, though? Apart from the last paragraph, and that seems to refer to the evidence Evra gave himself.

 

[The Sean]

Do they, though? Apart from the last paragraph, and that seems to refer to the evidence Evra gave himself.

"It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations."

I read that as referring to things like the bust up in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge, which Evra didn't actually complain about, though it has since become associated with him.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

"It is also our opinion that the accusation by this particular player was not credible - certainly no more credible than his prior unfounded accusations."

I read that as referring to things like the bust up in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge, which Evra didn't actually complain about, though it has since become associated with him.

Ah got ya. Yeah that's a low blow.

 

[sledger]

Well, that's got to be the end of Steve Kean surely. I imagine they may hang onto him for the next two games, as to introduce a new manager with the next two fixtures being Man Utd and Liverpool away wouldn't really be the done thing. But he surely has to go. The owners are entirely to blame for this mess as well. Pretty funny really.

 

[fredfertang]

Luis himself is of a mixed race family background as his grandfather was black. He has been personally involved since the 2010 World Cup in a charitable project which uses sport to encourage solidarity amongst people of different backgrounds with the central theme that the colour of a person's skin does not matter; they can all play together as a team.

Sounds rather like "How can I be racist because some of my best friends are black"

If I had a pound for every time I've heard that from a client accused of a racially aggravated offence I could pay off the Greek deficit

We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone

Go into any criminal court in the land and it happens every day - get real you stupid ****wits

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I'm assuming part of the rationale for banning Suarez for 8 games is because he's a despicable ****.

Deserves banning for that alone.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

The only reason they've made it 8 games is so that they can knock a couple off on appeal and he'll get the 6 game ban the FA want. The same as UEFA did with Rooney's 3 game ban which everyone knew would be reduced to 2 from the moment it was handed out.

 

[Pothas]

In other news surley that is it for poor old Steve.

 

[sledger]

He clearly doesn't think so.

BBC Sport - Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean '100% shocked' if he was sacked

Getting to the point where it's almost beyond funny.

 

[sledger]

Also found this part of the above article funny:

Bolton boss Owen Coyle mounted a defence for Kean as he claimed Blackburn's fans have never given him an opportunity to win them over since he succeeded sacked Sam Allardyce 12 months ago.

Not sure how he can say this with any sincerity. I'm not sure I can think of any fans in the world who would be happy after watching a year of general direness in which their team has been transformed from being a reasonably safe mid-table side into relegation fodder who can't buy a win. They've won 7 league games in the last 12 months for god's sake!