Liverpool and Suarez say sorry

Liverpool finally bowed to widespread criticism with a flurry of apologies yesterday which they hope will draw a line under the Luis Suarez racism affair.

Reds manager Kenny Dalglish and managing director Ian Ayre confirmed in separate statements that Suarez had misled them by indicating that he would shake hands with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra – who he had racially abused in October to incur an eight-match ban – before snubbing the Frenchman prior to kick-off in the Saturday lunchtime encounter.

Suarez also issued an apology for his conduct, with Manchester United rounding off the day’s developments by accepting the Reds’ statements of regret. Dalglish also apologised for how he conducted himself in a Sky Sports interview immediately after the match, where he batted away questions about Suarez posed by interviewer Geoff Shreeves.

Racism in football will be discussed at a Downing Street summit meeting, with UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt describing Suarez’s actions as “depressing”, but both the club and the Uruguayan must be hoping that their contrition yesterday will take the heat out of the issue.

The statements from Suarez, Ayre and Dalglish were published on the club’s website, one after the other in little over an hour, on the day a report had appeared in the New York Times calling for Liverpool’s American owners to “get hold of Liverpool... and repair its global image fast”.

Although there have been no public statements from Fenway Sports Group, who bought Liverpool 15 months ago and installed Dalglish as manager three months later, many detected their influence in the sudden about-turn in the club’s support of the 25-year-old Suarez.

Ayre said: “The player had told us beforehand that he would [shake Evra’s hand], but then chose not to do so.

“He was wrong to mislead us and wrong not to offer his hand to Patrice Evra. He has not only let himself down, but also Kenny Dalglish, his team-mates and the club. It has been made absolutely clear to Luis Suarez that his behaviour was not acceptable.”

Dalglish had previously paraphrased the club’s anthem when he urged the club’s fans to make sure Suarez did not “walk alone” after he was charged with racially abusing Evra and some Reds fans had responded in vociferous fashion at Anfield and on the internet.

As late as last week the 60-year-old Scot had claimed that the Uruguayan, his first signing on his return to the club, should not have been banned.

But he was contrite yesterday, saying in his statement: “To be honest, I was shocked to hear that the player had not shaken hands having been told earlier in the week that he would do.

“But as Ian said earlier, all of us have a responsibility to represent this club in a fit and proper manner and that applies equally to me as Liverpool manager.

“When I went on TV after yesterday’s game I hadn’t seen what had happened, but I did not conduct myself in a way befitting of a Liverpool manager during that interview and I’d like to apologise for that.”

And, while the Uruguayan stopped short of the apology to Evra himself for which some have called, he admitted he had been made to see the error of his ways following a discussion with his manager.

He said: “I’ve not only let him down, but also the club and what it stands for and I’m sorry. I made a mistake and I regret what happened.

“I should have shaken Patrice Evra’s hand before the game and I want to apologise for my actions.

“I would like to put this whole issue behind me and concentrate on playing football.”

In the spirit of reconciliation, United defender Rio Ferdinand was also prepared to concede that Evra’s post-match celebrations went too far.

He wrote on Twitter: “I’m sure Patrice Evra will feel that his celebrations at the end were maybe a bit much....emotions etc probably got the better of him...”