Couldn't agree more with that. This is a massive cock up by the FA amnd one with far reaching implications. They can't really reduce the ban as they would look weak - however, they've now opened the floodgates for any player to make an accusation and they'll have to do the same thing. How soon before the likes of Rooney, Van Persie and Modric get accused by a major rival in order for them to gain a huge advantage? Incidentally, why is it that in the alst recorded case of racism a player got an 8 game ban with 5 suspended yet Luis Suarez has to do the entire stretch? Not entirely consistent..... It's easy for fans of other clubs to laugh (usually i'd be first in the queue) but this has implications that go far beyond petty club rivalry - it's given carte blanche for people to cry racism and put the other person very firmly on the back foot.
According to Mr Suarez, at no point in the goalmouth did he use the word "negro". When the referee blew his whistle to stop play, Mr Evra spoke to Mr Suarez and said (in English) "Don't touch me, South American". Mr Suarez replied "Por que, negro?". He says that he used the word “negro" in a way with which he was familiar from his upbringing in Uruguay. In this sense, Mr Suarez claimed, it is used as a noun and as a friendly form of address to people seen as black or brown-skinned (or even just blackhaired). Thus, it meant "Why, black?" Mr Suarez maintained that when he said "Por que, negro?" to Mr Evra, it was intended in a conciliatory and friendly way. Mr Suarez said this was the only time that he used the word “negro" in his exchanges with Mr Evra during the match.
Court' is irrelevant here and so is 'convict'- this isn't a criminal matter (whereas the Terry case will be). ' The actual intent of Suarez in this instance doesn't matter, it's how it was perceived by Evra and by witnesses. i.e. I can call my best friend a nasty name on the street - even if they don't care, if it offends somebody I could be prosecuted if somebody else perceives it to be racist or threatening. The FA here are saying it isn't acceptble, while at the same time being careful to say they didn't think he meant it as racist. (IMO)
What evidence is needed when Suarez admitted to saying negro? If Suarez kept his mouth should, he would of been fine and got away with it.
You've got to wonder why the FA AND Evra are desperate to point out the fact that Suarez isn't racist. If he had truly said all those things that Evra accused him of, then surely he would be a racist? To me, it sounds the FA are trying to be seen to clamp down on racism as a big **** you to Blatter while trying to lessen the damage on Luis Suarez' reputation, as they have no actual concrete evidence he said anything.
The experts concluded their observations on Mr Suarez's account as follows. If Mr Suarez used the word "negro" as described by Mr Suarez, this would not be interpreted as either offensive or offensive in racial terms in Uruguay and Spanish-speaking America
The word "Negro" is perceived to be racist in this country. Everyone who has been here long enough knows that you moron.
They were speaking Spanish, so I don't see why he should apply English law to the conversation. Also he said he uses the word "negro" with Glen Johnson in training aswell, and I believe that to be true because Glen is a Spanish speaker. I'm sure Glen appreciates the fact that in certain parts of South America that word is used affectionately, and not offensively.
