LIVERPOOL STRIKER LUIS SUAREZ has moved to clear his name as the FA opened an inquiry into racist comments which he is alleged to have made to Manchester United’s Patrice Evra yesterday.
A spokesperson for the Anfield club said that the Uruguayan has “categorically denied” the allegations, reported to referee Andre Marriner following yesterday’s 1-1 draw between the sides.
Details of the allegations were included in Marriner’s match report and, in a brief statement last night, the FA confirmed that it is investigating the incident.
Evra spoke to French TV station Canal+ after the game and accused Suarez of repeated verbal abuse.
The pair clashed a number of times early in the second half, prompting Marriner to haul both players aside for a warning at one point.
“There are cameras, you can see him,” the Frenchman said. “He says a certain word to me at least 10 times.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. I won’t repeat what he said, but it was a racist word, and he said it more than 10 times. He tried to wind me up. I won’t make a huge deal out of it, but it’s very upsetting and disappointing.
A spokesman for Liverpool issued a brief statement on Suarez’s behalf.
“The first we knew about these allegations was 20 minutes after the final whistle when the manager [Kenny Dalglish] was asked to go into the referee’s office and told about them,” the spokesman said.
“The first thing we did, as you would expect, is ask the player and he has categorically denied using any language of that nature.”
