Suarez Race

Let’s get this right.

Every FA affiliated football ground has the ground rules displayed. One of these rules is clearly states that “Racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the Ground.” This is usually followed by the proviso that the club “…may impose a ban from the ground as a result”

These rules apply to all in the ground at any time, from the Club director to the cleaners.

In other words if I’m at a football ground and I’m overheard calling anyone a “black bastard”, be it player, official, steward or another fan, I would be marched off the premises and could face a long term ban from all grounds.

So why should this be any different for a player? Not only do they have to abide by the ground rules, but they also have FA rules to follow which are just as clear as far as racial comments concerned.

Therefore, it is absolutely right and proper for the FA to ban Luis Suarez for 8 matches for his comments to Patrick Evra. There are no excuses.

The fact that Evra is whinging girl’s blouse is irrelevant. The fact that Suarez comes from a different culture is irrelevant. The law, FA rules and ground regulations are clear, and if Liverpool FC hasn’t educated its players in these, then more fool the club.

I hope that this will send out a signal to all professional players in this country that they are not above rules, regulations and Law and I hope that John Terry is bricking himself…