I don't think Suarez is inherently racist... but what he said is unacceptable

By David Maddock

Published 14:34 21/12/11

Let's get one thing clear. Luis Suarez used “insulting words that included a reference to colour”. We know this, because he admitted as much himself.

In all the anger, outrage and aggression that has poured forth since the FA’s startling verdict in their case against the forward, that fact seems to have been somehow forgotten.

The question was never over the words used, but the context in which they were used. And clearly, the independent, three man disciplinary panel decided there was enough context to find him guilty.

Let’s get another thing clear. There is no suggestion from me that Luis Suarez in an inherent, overt racist. Patrice Evra, in his testimony to the FA’s disciplinary committee, apparently agreed that was never the nature of his complaint against the Liverpool striker.

Yet Suarez used words that can be construed as racist, even if he never meant them to be construed in that way.  And in doing so, he was clearly misguided, as an eight-match ban all too evidently and painfully proves.

It doesn’t help anyone to get too emotive about this. Claims of conspiracy amongst panel members is as unhelpful as it is misguided. And headlines screaming “Racist” are equally as unhelpful if they serve to turn up the emotional heat and allow the main issue to be ignored.

Racism is one of the great evils in our society, and it can not be allowed to continue into the 21st century. Football has a major part to play in eradicating vile, ignorant prejudice; should in fact be taking a leading role in the fight against it.

Footballers must set an example. It is a multi-cultural game, played by men and women of many different races, and many different tones of skin. That skin colour should never, ever be an issue in any way. If football can get that message across, then children the world over would learn a lesson vital to the future good of society.

Maybe Liverpool fans can pause for a moment today, and absorb that. Maybe Liverpool as a club could also pause for a second too. There is no need to refer to the colour of someone’s skin.

For what it is worth, I don’t believe Luis Suarez meant to be racist, or even considered his words to be such. From my little knowledge of him, he seems a decent, genuine person who can be a fine role model for young people from his position of great influence.

But the fact remains he used insulting words that referred to an opponent’s colour, and in football - in our society - that should not be acceptable, is not acceptable. He says he didn’t mean any racist intent and tried to put it in the context of his South American culture. Personally I see no reason to doubt the veracity of his conviction, but my opinion is not relevant. Nor indeed is that of Suarez himself.

The thing is, the context is not the point. Patrice Evra felt the words were insulting, and that means they should not have been spoken, because it means they were racist. A zero tolerance approach is the only way we can address a great evil in society, and whether you mean to be racist or not, words that are construed in that way should not be spoken.

That is not a matter for debate. Yet a debate has now raged that has got out of hand, because it has come down to tribalism – which is actually the cause of much racism in the first place.

This though, is not about rivalry between Manchester United and Liverpool , to paraphrase Shanks, it is far more important than that.

Luis Suarez admitted using the words, and explained he never meant them in an insulting way, he never realised they could be deemed to be racist - but they were, and maybe that is where the line should have been drawn. An explanation, an apology and acceptance the words were inadvisable, as well as an appreciation that any form of racism, whether unwitting or not, is still abhorrent.

That way, kids the world over could have understood the colour of a person’s skin is irrelevant, and should never be an issue in any context. Instead, we today see a situation of entrenched positions, and violent, angry recriminations.

We hear mutterings of conspiracy and victimisation. And that is wrong, because racism is the evil here, football – the authorities, the players, the fans and the media – must all do everything possible to lead the fight against the worst source of victimisation and conspiracy the world has ever known.

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