Gordon Taylor on Suarez Racism Ban | 21.12.2011
- 10 years ago
Luis Suárez's eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra has been supported by the head of the Professional Footballers' Association as "a very strong message to the rest of the world".
The Uruguayan Liverpool striker is expected to appeal against the suspension, with his defence being that he was unaware that language acceptable in his country was viewed as racist in Europe. Liverpool reacted angrily to the punishment for the 24-year-old, who was also fined £40,000 by an FA independent regulatory commission.
Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the PFA, said the sanction was an important message, especially after the outcry at Sepp Blatter's remarks -- later retracted by the Fifa president -- that racism on the pitch should be settled by a handshake.
Taylor said: "This was an independent commission experienced in law and football and they must have had compelling evidence, and it sends out a very strong message to the rest of the world.
"I understand the point about cultural differences but if you come to this country all players have to abide by not just the laws of the game but the laws of the land as well. Referring to someone's skin colour has got to be offensive -- it's self-evident.
"No one can say the FA have ducked this issue and bearing in mind outcry in this country over Sepp Blatter's remarks it sends out an important message. This is a timely reminder for the FA, the PFA and the clubs to continue education programmes particularly for players coming from abroad: it is never right to make reference to a person's skin colour or nationality."
Taylor said the high-profile nature of the issue, with two of the biggest clubs in the world, would reinforce the message.
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The Uruguayan Liverpool striker is expected to appeal against the suspension, with his defence being that he was unaware that language acceptable in his country was viewed as racist in Europe. Liverpool reacted angrily to the punishment for the 24-year-old, who was also fined £40,000 by an FA independent regulatory commission.
Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of the PFA, said the sanction was an important message, especially after the outcry at Sepp Blatter's remarks -- later retracted by the Fifa president -- that racism on the pitch should be settled by a handshake.
Taylor said: "This was an independent commission experienced in law and football and they must have had compelling evidence, and it sends out a very strong message to the rest of the world.
"I understand the point about cultural differences but if you come to this country all players have to abide by not just the laws of the game but the laws of the land as well. Referring to someone's skin colour has got to be offensive -- it's self-evident.
"No one can say the FA have ducked this issue and bearing in mind outcry in this country over Sepp Blatter's remarks it sends out an important message. This is a timely reminder for the FA, the PFA and the clubs to continue education programmes particularly for players coming from abroad: it is never right to make reference to a person's skin colour or nationality."
Taylor said the high-profile nature of the issue, with two of the biggest clubs in the world, would reinforce the message.
/football on Youtube brings you the latest football news, transfer rumours and footballing gossip from the English Premier League and European Champions League.