Daily Lessons from Life 13 February 2012 - Football: Liverpool fume as Suarez says sorry for Evra snub

"Football: Liverpool fume as Suarez says sorry for Evra snub - AFP 13 February 2012

LONDON: Liverpool chiefs have accused Luis Suarez of misleading them after claiming the Uruguay striker had guaranteed he would shake hands with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra before Saturday's clash at Old Trafford.

Suarez on Sunday apologised for his failure to acknowledge Evra's hand during the traditional pre-match greeting as he came face to face with United's captain for the first time since being given an eight-match ban for racially abusing the Frenchman at Anfield in October.

But Suarez's actions clearly infuriated Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre after Reds manager Kenny Dalglish and club officials were widely criticised for refusing to publicly condemn their player's behaviour.

Ayre insists Suarez had told them he would shake hands with Evra, only to change his mind on the pitch, and he revealed the club have given the forward a strong reminder of his responsibility not to damage Liverpool's reputation.

"We are extremely disappointed Luis Suarez did not shake hands with Patrice Evra before yesterday's game. The player had told us beforehand that he would, but then chose not to do so," Ayre said on Liverpool's official website.

"He was wrong to mislead us and wrong not to offer his hand to Patrice Evra.

"He has not only let himself down, but also Kenny Dalglish, his team-mates and the club.

"It has been made absolutely clear to Luis Suarez that his behaviour was not acceptable.""

Why do I comment on this sporting headline? Well. It is a big deal as the PM of UK is talking about the need to talk about football racism too!

Lessons for me are:

1. sporting heroes are not really the place to look for moral role model. Yet, there are many in the history of Liverpool Football Club that exhibited that exemplary Gentleman behaviours on and off the playing field. So, I agreed Suarez has let down his club! No doubt about that!!;

2. racism is an emotional thing. Just as football or soccer are. When emotion is allowed to be abused, rationality takes a back seat and things can get out of control pretty easily. The Man United Manager, Sir Ferguson was right to say that a riot and violence between the 2 bitter footballing giants in England could have broken up with such farcical behaviors by Suarez, and then Evra. Just glad that no stupid tragedy happened in this instance;

3. in Singapore, racism is tightly controlled. We recognize that it is an emotive issue and NO ONE is allowed to attack another race, language and religion without facing the full force of the laws coming down HARD swiftly and mercilessly. It does not mean there CANNOT be discussion, civil one, about race, language and religion. It simply meant there is NO room to put other down to show that your own is superior.

May Suarez, a gifted footballer for sure, regain his composure and check-in his self-centeredness and start thinking about Liverpool Football Club 1st. Otherwise, he should just got out of this beloved football club of mine!