Owners, sponsors weigh into Suarez saga

LIVERPOOL’S American owners will fly in this week after the club’s main sponsors waded into the storm caused by Luis Suarez.

Fenway Sports Group’s initial plans were to come over for the build-up to the Carling Cup final on February 26 but it is now expected they will bring forward their visit and be on Merseyside within days.

Principal owner John W Henry could be joined by chairman Tom Werner to dissect how Liverpool’s global reputation could have been so badly damaged by a saga that culminated in Suarez refusing to shake Patrice Evra’s hand at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Suarez’s snub angered Liverpool and his long-term future at the club is in the balance.

So concerned were Standard Chartered, Liverpool’s sponsors, by what unfolded that they issued a statement yesterday, making it clear they would not tolerate any repeat.

The investment bank said: “We were very disappointed by Saturday’s incident and have discussed our concerns with the club.” Liverpool themselves issued three conciliatory statements – from Suarez, managing director Ian Ayre and manager Kenny Dalglish – in the space of an hour on Sunday afternoon.

The club insist they held positive discussions with Standard Chartered before doing so and maintained dialogue with the banking firm throughout.

A club statement said last night: “Ian Ayre kept Standard Chartered fully informed of developments over the course of the weekend. The actions the club decided to take yesterday were supported by Standard Chartered.”

The investment bank signed a record £81 million four-year deal with Liverpool in 2009. They were responsible for organising a successful tour of the Far East last year and another is planned for 2013.

There is no suggestion Suarez’s actions have led Standard Chartered to consider withdrawing from their relationship. What happens to Suarez, though, remains to be seen. – Daily Mail