Great, but club hasn’t gone far enough
FINALLY, Liverpool have stemmed the tide of negative PR engulfing their mishandling of the Luis Suarez saga. Quite rightly they have demanded the Uruguayan apologise for embarrassing the club with his non-handshake and given him a public dressing down. Kenny Dalglish, too, has acknowledged his post-match defence of Suarez was wrong and only invited further opprobrium.
But it does not go far enough. Suarez has never issued an unreserved apology for referring to Patrice Evra’s colour in their infamous bad-tempered exchange. Dalglish, too, has not seen the fault in his increasingly laughable stance that Suarez is the victim, not the perpetrator, in this sorry episode.
The Liverpool manager last week reignited this most combustible of issues by insisting that Suarez should never have received his eight-game ban. It is a feeling that the club has wilfully cultivated and yesterday’s contrition, welcome though it was, does not address this.
Meanwhile, Anfield has witnessed instances of alleged racism towards not just Evra but also unconnected parties, such as Oldham youngster Tom Adeyemi.
Until Liverpool’s hierarchy – and where have their owners been during all this? – condemn Suarez’s initial act and Dalglish’s ill-advised defence they will continue to lend legitimacy to a disgusting terrace minority.
Frank Dalleres is City PM sports editor