Luis Suarez Banned For 8 Games Over Racial Abuse | Ghana Weekly

LUIS SUAREZ has been slapped with a mammoth EIGHT-MATCH ban for racism.

The Liverpool striker was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. The FA’s Independent Regulatory Commission also fined Suarez £40,000. Evra told French TV he was racially abused by Suarez on 10 occasions during United’s Premier League match at Anfield in October. And today’s hearing confirmed Suarez “included a reference to Evra’s colour” in his outbursts. After hearing the verdict, Suarez tweeted: “Today is a very difficult and painful day for both me and my family. Thanks for all the support, I’ll keep working!” Liverpool tonight reacted furiously to the FA’s decision and claimed: “It seems incredible to us that a player of mixed heritage should be accused and found guilty in the way he has based on the evidence presented. We do not recognise the way in which Luis Suarez has been characterised.” The club could yet launch an appeal once full details of the FA’s inquiry have been published. Both players spoke to FA officials during their investigation and Suarez’s defence was based on claims that he was unaware language that is acceptable in Uruguay is viewed as racist in Europe. Suarez told Uruguayan media last month: “There is no evidence I said anything racist to him. I said nothing of the sort. “There were two parts of the discussion — one in Spanish, one in English. I did not insult him. “It was just a way of expressing myself. I called him something his team-mates at Manchester call him, and even they were surprised by his reaction.” Evra reported his complaint to match referee Andre Marriner, who included it in his report. Suarez has the right to appeal and the suspension will not start until the outcome of any such appeal is known.