Liverpool have defended Luis Suarez and say they are "surprised and disappointed" he has been charged with racially abusing Patrice Evra.
The striker has been banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 by the Football Association for his part in an altercation with the Manchester United defender at Anfield on October 15. Suarez has 14 days to appeal the decision and his suspension is not due to begin until the completion of any appeals process.
The Reds did not officially confirm whether or not they would be appealing, but said: "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."
Their statement continued: "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 team-mates 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."
Liverpool also reiterated their stance against racism, and suggested they were keen to see what action the FA would be taking against Evra, claiming he had admitted insulting Suarez himself.
The club also accused the FA of being "determined" to find Suarez guilty, adding: "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.
"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."
Source: PA
