Ferguson calls for firm stand on racism

Alex Ferguson has called for the authorities to crack down hard on any new incident of racism in football.

The Manchester United boss has been close to the centre of one such controversy — his defender Patrice Evra was racially abused by Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, who has just completed the eight-match suspension imposed by the FA as punishment.

Suarez is set to come face to face with Evra again at Old Trafford on Saturday and Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has already stoked the fires ahead of the match by saying he doesn’t believe the Uruguayan should have been banned.