Luis Suarez charged by the FA using abusive and/or insulting words towards Manchester

[zee24]

Article by Tim Vickery
South American football expert

BBC Sport - Football Association to rule on Luis Suarez race row

[zee24]

An Independent Regulatory Commission has today [Tuesday 20 December 2011] found a charge of misconduct against Luis Suarez proven, and have issued a suspension for a period of eight matches as well as fining him ?40,000, pending appeal.

On 16 November 2011, The Football Association charged Luis Suarez with misconduct contrary to FA Rule E3 in relation to the Liverpool FC versus Manchester United FC fixture on 15 October 2011.

A hearing took place from 14-20 December 2011 before an Independent Regulatory Commission of The FA to consider the charge.

The Independent Regulatory Commission announced its decision on 20 December 2011, which is as follows:

1. Mr Suarez used insulting words towards Mr Evra during the match contrary to FA Rule E3(1);
2. the insulting words used by Mr Suarez included a reference to Mr Evra's colour within the meaning of Rule E3(2);
3. Mr Suarez shall be warned as to his future conduct, be suspended for eight matches covering all first team competitive matches and fined the sum of ?40,000;
4. the [penalty] is suspended pending the outcome of any appeal lodged by Mr Suarez against this decision.

The Independent Regulatory Commission will provide written reasons for its decision in due course setting out:

(a) the findings of fact made by it;

(b) the reasons for its decision finding the charge proved; and

(c) the reasons for the penalty.

Mr Suarez has the right to appeal the decision of the Independent Regulatory Commission to an Appeal Board. An appeal must be lodged within 14 days of the date of the written reasons for the decision.

The penalty is suspended until after the outcome of any appeal, or the time for appealing expires, or should Mr Suarez decide not to appeal. The reason for this is to ensure that the penalty does not take effect before any appeal so that Mr Suarez has an effective right of appeal.

[dctyper]

so does that mean they have evidence?

dc

[Bulld0g]

You gotta feel sorry for John Terry here. The cameras caught Terry bang to rights, that poor ~~~~er is looking at life or the death penalty if this sentence is anything to go by.

[Jaffa]

so does that mean they have evidence?

dc

Probably Suarez admitting to calling him Negreto, even though it meant pal and his team mates call him that, strange he never reported them.

So they throw the book at Suarez when there was language issues, I wonder what they will do to the England captain....no language barriers there.

Will be interesting to see the full report when they publish it.

We should give them a dose of their own medicine and send in the lawyers with an appeal, lets see if they reduce the sentence.

8 matches...ridiculous verdict, they hammered him there.

[zee24]

I don't beleiveeeeee it!! Victor Meldrew

Atleast he can play until his appeal is heard but jeez did not see that coming.

John Terry will probly be hanged then

[ruudvandan]

As a United fan I'm not too pleased about this 8-match ban. He's Liverpool's best player at the moment and it means he misses the League match against City, but he's back for the United game.

[spondulick]

yeah, if he does appeal will no doubt be a clause where if he should lose, will be able to increase punishment but then that would be up to the player and liverpool fc as to weather they take that risk.

[andy1967]

So LFC have a proven racist on their books, in every normal job he would be sacked over this, can't wait to hear what ken nee has to say now and will he apologise to Evra. Still got the fingure gesture to come aswell.

[zee24]

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.

[zee24]

Theres now a counter charge that Evra used insulting words in Spanish made by Liverpool, but to Luis credit he says he did not hear the insult.

[zee24]

So LFC have a proven racist on their books, in every normal job he would be sacked over this, can't wait to hear what ken nee has to say now and will he apologise to Evra. Still got the fingure gesture to come aswell.

Evra said himself in his own statement that he doesn't think Luis is a racist nor did the board who said they didn't think he was a racist in their opening statements

[Jaffa]

So LFC have a proven racist on their books, in every normal job he would be sacked over this, can't wait to hear what ken nee has to say now and will he apologise to Evra. Still got the fingure gesture to come aswell.

Strange this comment when Peter Schmeichel was accused of calling Ian Wright a black bastard, the FA couldnt charge him cos there was only Wrights word to go on...yet they took Evra's word...one rule for one and all that.

[andy1967]

Words from ken nee " "Whoever is the guilty party - the person who said it or the accuser - [should] get their due punishment."

So no appeal then ken nee

Suarez made a racist remark but is not a racist, hence an 8 match ban.

[young]

OH come on do you really think that if they didnt have enough evidence they wouldnt have charged him, knowing that an appeal would clear him, he has said racist comments and been found guilty, if he would have worked as a copper or fireman he would have got instant sack, or football comentator(ron atkinson). take it on the chin i say lmao