I was shocked to hear the news of Suarez's treatment as any other red and was as outraged after I read the report from the FA as others were.
While I have discussed and argued over details with like minded and opposite views on the whole issue, it suddenly occurred to me that the FA may be actually playing a blinder through all this.
One thing that is for certain, is that the vast majority of supporters including Liverpool fans are against racism, yet we the Liverpool fans are adamant that Suarez was not guilty of racism at all and the conclusion drawn from the report on 'probable likelihood' that he was being offensive, even racially, was flawed.
It seems to me that there are so many probables in the coming to a conclusion that an appeal could overcome the 'verdict', although this is a civil matter and not a criminal court of law.
I suddenly started to wonder if the report has been drawn up to offer an opportunity for an appeal.
Why would the FA do that I asked myself.
We are all aware of the politics of the situation between the FA and FIFA over this issue of racism and how the FA would love to make their stance in defiance of the 'soft' FIFA and as most think Suarez has been offered as the sacrificial lamb to the altar of politics.
Well lets consider the alternative.
The FA dismiss Evras claims of racial abuse on the grounds that probaly and maybe there was a case but we are not going to consider any word against word of racism in the game and therefore we find Suarez innocent.
There would have been an almighty outcry not only from the 'Kick it Out' organisation but from black players and supporters throughout the land, that a black persons word is not given any consideratuion over anothers.
And would hinder any future reporting of incidents to referees in future incidents.
By finding in favour of Evras account, the FA have avoided that collision with ethnic groups within their sport.
So why open it to appeal.
Well, consider Liverpool successfully appeal and dlear Suarez of the racist tag, the FA will still be able to say 'We have shown the world we will tackle this problem and are prepared to give out stern sentences to anybody found to racially offend an opponent'
'Howevere in reviewing the facts we can't be absolutely certain that Mr Suarez meant any racial offence and we have dropped the charge to one of a lesser offence that will carry a two game suspension.'
Is this a likely scenario.
I hope that is the minimum outcome after appeal, and hope that this may have been the only course of action open to the FA in dealing with the whole matter.
The one thing this case has done more than anything, is create a discussion amongst fans as to the issues of racism in our game a discussion that might not have happened in the same way or to the same end as dismissing the Evra claim
.
Even people who I regard to have an uneducated attitude to race have stationed themselves in the anti racist camps, mainly due to partisanship rather than to any educational process.
I feel sorry for the FA to some extent. They were on a hiding to nothing whatever the outcome. But consider that had they dismissed Evras claims, they would have had no chance of 'redeeming' themselves with the anti racist groups, as those groups could not appeal a 'dismissal' of the charge, but if an appeal is successful then all parties will have been appeased.
While I have discussed and argued over details with like minded and opposite views on the whole issue, it suddenly occurred to me that the FA may be actually playing a blinder through all this.
One thing that is for certain, is that the vast majority of supporters including Liverpool fans are against racism, yet we the Liverpool fans are adamant that Suarez was not guilty of racism at all and the conclusion drawn from the report on 'probable likelihood' that he was being offensive, even racially, was flawed.
It seems to me that there are so many probables in the coming to a conclusion that an appeal could overcome the 'verdict', although this is a civil matter and not a criminal court of law.
I suddenly started to wonder if the report has been drawn up to offer an opportunity for an appeal.
Why would the FA do that I asked myself.
We are all aware of the politics of the situation between the FA and FIFA over this issue of racism and how the FA would love to make their stance in defiance of the 'soft' FIFA and as most think Suarez has been offered as the sacrificial lamb to the altar of politics.
Well lets consider the alternative.
The FA dismiss Evras claims of racial abuse on the grounds that probaly and maybe there was a case but we are not going to consider any word against word of racism in the game and therefore we find Suarez innocent.
There would have been an almighty outcry not only from the 'Kick it Out' organisation but from black players and supporters throughout the land, that a black persons word is not given any consideratuion over anothers.
And would hinder any future reporting of incidents to referees in future incidents.
By finding in favour of Evras account, the FA have avoided that collision with ethnic groups within their sport.
So why open it to appeal.
Well, consider Liverpool successfully appeal and dlear Suarez of the racist tag, the FA will still be able to say 'We have shown the world we will tackle this problem and are prepared to give out stern sentences to anybody found to racially offend an opponent'
'Howevere in reviewing the facts we can't be absolutely certain that Mr Suarez meant any racial offence and we have dropped the charge to one of a lesser offence that will carry a two game suspension.'
Is this a likely scenario.
I hope that is the minimum outcome after appeal, and hope that this may have been the only course of action open to the FA in dealing with the whole matter.
The one thing this case has done more than anything, is create a discussion amongst fans as to the issues of racism in our game a discussion that might not have happened in the same way or to the same end as dismissing the Evra claim
.
Even people who I regard to have an uneducated attitude to race have stationed themselves in the anti racist camps, mainly due to partisanship rather than to any educational process.
I feel sorry for the FA to some extent. They were on a hiding to nothing whatever the outcome. But consider that had they dismissed Evras claims, they would have had no chance of 'redeeming' themselves with the anti racist groups, as those groups could not appeal a 'dismissal' of the charge, but if an appeal is successful then all parties will have been appeased.
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