Luis Suarez hits back at Patrice Evra in race row

16 October 2011 15:15
Luis Suarez has hit back at claims he racially abused Patrice Evra at Anfield on Saturday.[LNB]The Manchester United left-back had accused Suarez of using the same racial insult 'more than 10 times'. Sources in France said the word Suarez is alleged to have used is 'n*****'[LNB]But he responded on Sunday by saying: 'I'm upset by the accusations of racism. I can only say that I have always respected and respect everybody.[LNB] Fury: Patrice Evra (right) pushes Luis Suarez away at Anfield[LNB] [LNB]'We are all the same. I go to the field with the maximum illusion of a little child who enjoys what he does, notto create conflicts.'[LNB]Suarez now faces a Football Association investigation after referee Andre Marriner included Evra's allegations about Suarez's language in his match report.[LNB]Marriner was seen talking to the players after a clash at a second-half corner and Evra was later booked for dissent.[LNB]France full-back Evra,who was born in the Senegal capital of Dakar, told French TV channel Canal Plus: 'I was very upset. In 2011 you can't say things like this. He knows what he said, the ref knows it, it will come out.[LNB]'Iwon't repeat what he said, but it was a racist word, and he said it more than ten times. He tried to wind me up. I won't make a huge deal out of it, but it's very upsetting and disappointing.'[LNB] Flashpoint: Referee Andre Marriner talks to Liverpool striker Luis Suarez(centre) and Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during the clash at Anfield[LNB]Suarezis no stranger to controversy. The Uruguay striker earned notoriety at last year's World Cup by handling a goalbound effort by Ghana in the final moments of the quarter-final, then celebrating when the resulting penalty was missed and Uruguay went through on a penalty shoot-out. [LNB]InNovember, he was suspended for seven games by the Dutch authorities forbiting PSV Eindhoven's Moroccan midfielder Otman Bakkal on the shoulderwhile playing for previous club Ajax.[LNB]There have also been accusations of Suarez diving but a conviction for racism would be far more serious and would overshadow the impressive start he has made in English football. [LNB] [LNB] Close attention: Evra holds off Suarez[LNB] [LNB]The ?22.8million signing has already established himself as a Liverpool hero after producing a number of impressive performances worthy of theNo 7 shirt which was worn with such distinction by his manager Kenny Dalglish.[LNB]A Liverpool spokesman said: 'The first we knew about these allegations was 20 minutes after the final whistle when the manager was asked to gointo the referee's office and told about them. [LNB]'The first thing we did, as you would expect, is ask the player and he hascategorically denied using any language of that nature.' [LNB] Caught red handed: Suarez handles Dominic Adiyah's goalbound header[LNB]An FA spokesman said: 'The FA has been made aware this evening of anincident that is alleged to have occurred during the Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture at Anfield. [LNB]'Referee Andre Marriner was made aware of the allegation at the end of the fixture and has subsequently reported this to the FA. The FA will now be making enquiries into the matter.'[LNB]The claim from Evra comes as the anti-discrimination body Kick It Out promotes its 'weeks of action', which began on Thursday and run through to October 31.[LNB]Liverpool's home Premier League match against Norwich next Saturday will support Kick It Out's 'One Game, One Community' campaign.[LNB] Racist fury: Liverpool star Suarez called me the N-word, claims EvraLiverpool 1 Manchester United 1: Gerrard back to give Reds a kickstartMaybe my luck is changing! Gerrard hopeful injury woes are behind him after fluke strike [LNB]

Source: Daily_Mail