Evra pursues allegations against Suarez

Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra’s battle looks set to continue off the pitch [GALLO/GETTY]

The nasty side of football reared its ugly head again on Saturday when Manchester United defender Patrice Evra accused Liverpool’s Luis Suarez of racial abuse after the teams clashed in the English Premier League.  

Evra is standing by his allegation that he was repetitively racially abused by Suarez and will continue to pursue the matter, United manager Alex Ferguson said on Monday.

Evra made the claims on French television station Canal Plus after Saturday’s Premier League clash at Anfield which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Uruguay striker Suarez has denied any wrongdoing, saying he is upset by the accusation, but Ferguson said Evra does not want to let the matter rest.

“We spoke to Patrice today and he was adamant he wanted to follow it on (complaint against Luis Suarez),” Ferguson was quoted as saying on United’s website.

“It’s not an easy one because everybody knows Manchester United and Liverpool have great responsibility. I thought
Saturday was great in the stands and both sets of fans deserve praise for that. But Patrice feels very aggrieved by what was said to him and now it rests in the hands of the FA.”

The Football Association has begun making enquiries after the allegations were brought to the attention of match referee Andre Marriner.

Crunch matches

Back on the pitch, United are likely to field their big guns for Tuesday’s Champions League encounter away to Romania’s Otelul Galati despite a weekend derby with Manchester City looming.

When Ferguson cast his eye over the fixture list he probably expected to be in a position to hold back a few key players against the Champions League debutants but things have not gone to plan.

Draws against Benfica and at home to FC Basel have left United in third spot in Group C and Tuesday’s game has suddenly taken priority over the meeting with Premier League leaders City on Sunday.

“Tomorrow and then Sunday are two important games” Alex Ferguson

“Tomorrow and then Sunday are two important games,”

Ferguson, who will almost certainly recall Wayne Rooney after he was left on the bench against Liverpool on Saturday, told a news conference in Bucharest.

“I think we have to win tomorrow and I’ll play a strong team. I could play several teams tomorrow and I’d consider them strong enough to win.

“We have to progress in the Champions League but we have four or five days to recover for Sunday’s game against
Manchester City.”