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The following is an extract from 'The King's Last Stand'. It is taken from a chapter dealing with the FA Report into the Luis Suarez / Patrice Evra case.

 

 

Evra's version: PE: "Why did you kick me?" LS: "Because you are black"
Suarez's version: PE: "Why did you kick me?" LS: "It was just a normal foul"

The FA: "Mr Suarez said he shrugged his shoulders and put his arms out in a gesture to say that there was nothing serious about it. At this point on the video footage, Mr Suarez's face is obscured, but he does appear to shrug his shoulders."

Even the wording of it shows you the bias in the report. It's as though they are reluctant to even admit that he shrugged his shoulders. What's all this 'appear to' crap. He did or he didn't. If you've seen the video you know that he did. The video shows Suarez shrugging and holding the palm of his hands up looking completely baffled by it and his body language appears defensive and conciliatory. Look at it and ask yourself what he is more likely to be saying; "I kicked you because you are black" or "It was just a normal foul"

Evra's version: PE: "Say it to me again, I'm going to punch you". LS: "I don't speak to blacks" PE: "Okay, now I think I'm going to punch you" LS: "Okay, blackie, blackie, blackie"
Suarez's version: PE: "Ok, you kicked me, I'm going to kick you" LS: "I told him to shut up and made a brief gesture with my left hand like a 'quacking' motion as if to say he was talking too much and should be quiet".

The video shows Suarez making a gesture with his hand, which again backs up his version. Also, does anyone actually believe he would say 'I don't talk to blacks' and then say 'blackie blackie blackie' in a crowded goalmouth? (actually it would have been 'negro negro negro' but the point stands) And if he did, how come NOBODY heard it?? NOBODY!!! Even though David De Gea amongst others was stood right next to them. And what relevance would the 'quacking' gesture have in that context?

 

The FA: "Mr Evra said that as Mr Suarez was speaking he reached out to touch Mr Evra's arm, gesturing at his skin. Mr Evra said that Mr Suarez was drawing attention to the colour of Mr Evra's skin. In cross-examination, Mr Evra said that at the time he did not realise that Mr Suarez had pinched his arm. He was more focussed on his lips and what he was saying. Mr Evra only realised that Mr Suarez had touched his arm in this way when he saw the video footage later."

Drawing attention to the colour of his skin by pinching him?? Please!! Who does that??? Nobody, that's who. It's a ludicrous and desperate suggestion. I've seen the video of this, and Suarez clearly reached out and pinched him on the arm, yet Evra claims he didn't notice until he saw the video! Really?? Someone is stood in front of you and pinches your arm and you don't notice? The FA don't find that even the slightest bit dubious? I would suggest that had Evra admitted noticing the pinch it would make Suarez's 'don't touch me South American' accusation a lot more plausible. By saying he didn't notice he makes it easier to then deny saying 'don't touch me South American'. After all, why would you say 'don't touch me' if you didn't realise you'd been touched?

 

The FA: "Mr Suarez said that at no point did he use the word 'negro' during the exchange with Mr Evra in the goalmouth."

If he had done, surely there'd have been a visible reaction from Evra? After all, this is a man with a well known short fuse who had earlier gone nuts because he lost the coin toss. If you actually watch the footage, Evra is relatively calm throughout the whole exchange. He doesn't lose the plot until he gets booked after an altercation with Kuyt. Whilst the alleged racism is happening he's completely in control of himself and at one point is even half smiling as he talks with Suarez. Not the reaction you'd expect of somebody who believes he is repeatedly being called 'n***er' is it?

The FA: "The referee called them over to him. Mr Suarez said something to Mr Evra, then started to walk away. There is a clear reaction by Mr Evra to Mr Suarez's comment. This is apparent in two ways. First, there is a facial reaction by Mr Evra, akin to a look of surprise. Secondly, whilst looking at the referee, Mr Evra points to Mr Suarez, first with his forefinger then with his thumb. Mr Evra walks towards the referee and says something while pointing back at Mr Suarez."

The FA: "Mr Evra's evidence was that while he was walking towards the referee he said "ref, ref, he just called me a fucking black". He said that he did not know whether the referee heard his comment. The referee said something like "Calm down, Patrice, the game has been brilliant, stop the pushing between you and Suarez, the game is going well."

So, there's no visible reaction previously to anything said or even when Suarez pinched him. Then, suddenly Suarez says something that causes him to visibly react. So, with that in mind, whos version makes more sense now? Surely Suarez's account, as this is the point where he admits saying "Por que negro?". Evra reacted to the 'negro' comment with shock, which seems strange if - as he'd claimed - he'd been subjected to it five times previously. It would be a natural reaction if it had been the first time the word had been used however. What's even more puzzling is that Evra doesn't even say in his testimony what Suarez said to make him look so shocked. Given that at this stage he was apparently under the impression he'd been called 'n***er' five times (remember it was only much later that he supposedly realised that 'negro' did not mean 'n***er' even though he claims he can 'easily converse in Spanish'), what could Suarez possibly have said that would suddenly cause him to look shocked, and more importantly, why did he not feel the need to mention it? This is your 'impressive' witness? Really?

 

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