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| Patrice Evra was taunted throughout the FA Cup tie by Liverpool fans |
I've never been a particularly big fan of Patrice Evra.
In the past, I have found him to be arrogant and unlikable, but the Luis Suarez saga has put him in a different light.
He has dealt with the whole situation admirably, particularly today when he was given ridiculous abuse in Manchester United's FA Cup tie at Liverpool.
Many have tried to brush this aside, but I find it completely unacceptable that the victim - yes victim - in a race case is being given so much stick.
Liverpool fans are continuing to support Suarez - more due to the quality of his play than the quality of his evidence in the case - but the fact is he was found guilty by an independent panel of racially abusing Evra.
Because of that, it must be assumed Evra was telling the truth throughout and his integrity should not be questioned. There is nothing to suggest he lied other than a host of childish conspiracy theories dreamt up by Kenny Dalglish.
Dalglish must take his share of the blame for the attitude of Liverpool's fans towards Evra.
He was booed and abused throughout the FA Cup tie and cameras even showed one fan racially abusing him.
Yet what has he done wrong? As I mentioned earlier, he is the victim in all of this.
Evra must have been disgusted with the Liverpool supporters' treatment of him, yet somehow kept his cool in the cauldron-like atmosphere and did not bite back.
I never thought I'd be saying this about him, but Evra was the moral victor today.
Why does a victim of racist abuse deserve to be booed?
What message is that sending to other victims? Will players fail to speak out in future when they are racially abused due to incidents like this?
Anton Ferdinand received a bullet in the post for daring to complain about the alleged abuse he was given by John Terry.
Liverpool's whole handling of the Suarez-Evra case was woeful, and they are now discovering the consequences.
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| The Suarez-Evra case is continuing to haunt Liverpool |
The club's name is continually being dragged through the mud by mindless idiots who call themselves 'fans'.
Of course, the majority of Liverpool fans would be strongly against racism, and it is important not all of them are tarnished with the same brush.
However, the club's true supporters must be despairing at how the image of their club has been wrecked in the last few months.
They were once a club respected by all, but now they - and their fans - are being seen in a different light.
Dalglish described the abuse of Evra as a "bit of banter", which is another ridiculous statement likely to persuade even more to turn on the Frenchman.
If fans singing songs ridiculing a player who has been racially abused is a bit of banter, then the world has gone mad.
Liverpool won the game on the pitch, but off the pitch they lost it.
Towards the end, with the game at 1-1, I found myself willing Man United to score a winner. I have NEVER rooted for them before and never expected to, but I couldn't help myself.
Suarez is being treated like the victim and Evra like the guilty party, which is sad and distressing to all those working tirelessly to kick racism out of the game.
Even ITV's director seemed to be siding with Suarez, with his celebrations in the crowd to Liverpool's goals given far too much prominence.
Unfortunately, racism is slowly seeping back into football and some are turning a blind eye to it.
It is crucial Suarez is not seen as the victim. Racism must be kicked out once and for all and it never will be when those found guilty of it are not so much as criticised.
Evra is certainly not without his faults but he showed tremendous professionalism today in the face of such vile abuse.
He should be proud of the way he dealt with the situation. Some of Liverpool's fans - and Dalglish - should be ashamed.
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