Evra insistent over Suarez racism claim
OTELUL GALATI vs MANCHESTER UNITED
MANCHESTER UNITED defender Patrice Evra has told manager Sir Alex Ferguson that he wishes to pursue his allegation that he was racially abused by Liverpool forward Luis Suarez in Saturday’s Premier League match.
Uruguay star Suarez on Sunday denied Evra’s claim that he used “a certain word” “at least 10 times” during the 1-1 draw at Anfield.
But Ferguson, speaking ahead of tonight’s Champions League match at Romanian title winner Otelul Galati, confirmed Evra still wants the Football Association to investigate.
“I spoke to Patrice today. He is adamant he wants to follow it on,” said Ferguson.
“It is not an easy one for us. It is not something we would want to level against Liverpool and it is not against Liverpool. Obviously Patrice feels very aggrieved at what was said to him. It rests in the hands of the FA now.”
Ferguson confirmed the ongoing dispute would not preclude Evra from featuring this evening as United look to make up ground following an unusually sluggish start to their European campaign.
The English champions had to come from behind to snatch a draw at home to Basel last time round and also drew their opening Group C fixture, away at Benfica.
Defender Rio Ferdinand has been rested but his regular central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic returns from a calf injury and could resume the captaincy from Evra.
Striker Wayne Rooney, left on the bench against Liverpool following the news of a three-match international ban that will rule him out of the Euro 2012 group stage, is in the squad. Ferguson added: “It’s not easy to cope with this situation, when he realised that he will miss so many important matches at a major competition. But he is a strong character. When he came on [at Anfield] he was bubbly, full of energy and enthusiasm.”
Galati have made a slow start to the domestic season and lie ninth after 10 games, 10 points off the top.