Luis Suarez To Be Questioned By Football Association

Liverpool forward Luis Suárez is expected to be interviewed by the Football Association next week as investigations continue into allegations of racist abuse made by Manchester United defender Patrice Evra following last Saturday’s 1-1 draw between the two clubs at Anfield.

Suárez has strenuously denied accusations made by Evra that he uttered racial insults during the Premier League fixture, with Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insisting on Thursday that the club remain “totally and utterly behind” the Uruguay international.

But with representatives of the FA’s disciplinary unit travelling to Manchester to speak to Evra on Thursday, it is understood that Suárez will also be asked for his observations by the FA to maintain the integrity of the investigative process and avoid accusations of an unbalanced inquiry.

There is no suggestion that the FA has received new evidence which supports or weakens the position of either player.

With Evra, who was accompanied by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, reporting the alleged racist abuse to match referee Andre Marriner after last week’s fixture, Suárez will be given the opportunity to offer his version of events when he meets the FA.

It remains unclear as to what Evra told the FA during his meeting on Thursday, however, with both United and the governing body yesterday adhering to an agreement not to discuss the investigation.

Ferguson said on Monday that Evra was determined to follow through with his complaint against Suárez, but the French defender will have to supply secondary evidence to support his claims of racist abuse in order for the FA to consider action against the Liverpool player.

While Ferguson has insisted that United regard the matter as one between Evra and Suárez, rather than a club versus club issue, the rhetoric from Liverpool has been strong, with Dalglish also defending Suárez against United’s accusations of “diving all over the place”.

But despite Liverpool’s unswerving support of Suárez, Dalglish has made it clear that the club will “co-operate 100 per cent” with the FA during the investigation.