DALGLISH: WE ARE FIGHTING RACISM
LONDON: Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has insisted that it is “utterly rubbish” to suggest that defending Luis Suarez against racism accusations shows that the club is not interested in fighting racism.
The Uruguay striker is serving an eight-match ban for repeatedly racially abusing Patrice Evra during a match and he has been criticised for failing to apologise to the Manchester United defender.
Liverpool were condemned by anti-racism groups for resolutely backing Suarez and allowing the squad and Dalglish to wear T-shirts featuring Suarez’s picture in a show of solidarity ahead of a match.
After facing weeks of criticism, Dalglish has issued a statement on the club website to say that the Reds “don’t want racism anywhere near football”.
“Over the past few weeks, there has been a perception that the football club isn’t doing what it should be doing (to fight racism), but I don’t think the football club would ever go down that road,” Dalglish said yesterday. “We will always support the official campaigns related to racism. Obviously there was a big issue with Luis.
“The players showed support for Luis, which was fantastic, but then some people interpreted that wrongly as the players saying they’re not interested in the fight against racism. That is totally and utterly rubbish.”
Liverpool’s attempts to move on from the Suarez case have been hampered by another racism investigation involving the club.
Oldham defender Tom Ade- yemi was reduced to tears by insults from Liverpool fans during Friday’s 5-1 loss at Anfield in the FA Cup and had to be comforted by teammates and opposing players.
Police have arrested a 20year-old man from the Liverpool area on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
“The person who shouted whatever he shouted at Tom that upset him, if we can help the police find out who it is and he gets charged, then whatever we can do to make the punishment as severe as it could be will be done,” Dalglish said.
A year after returning to the manager’s job after 20 years, Dalglish insisted that Liverpool would not be one of the world’s most popular clubs if it had failed to help combat racism.
“I can guarantee to the supporters out there that there is no way I would have come back to this football club if I thought it was in any way, shape or form racist or discriminatory,” the 60-year-old Scot said. “I wouldn’t be here.”
Preparations have already begun at Liverpool for the first visit of United since Suarez’s confrontation with Evra in October during a Premier League match.
The rivals were drawn together to meet in the fourth round of the FA Cup on the weekend of January 28-29.
“There were definitely a few raised eyebrows from everyone after that draw,” Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said yesterday. “With all that’s gone on, I think the most important thing for us is to make sure that we make it a great day and a great game.” – Sapa-ap