Match Point
English Premier League: Handshakes and hypocrisy

English Premier League: Handshakes and hypocrisy

After Suarez kept walking without shaking Evra’s hand, people's reactions brought forward glaring hypocrisies.

Ahmed Saleem February 20, 2012

If the English Premier League can be defined by one contest, it is the one between the two most illustrious and successful clubs, Manchester United and Liverpool FC. That is one fixture (in fact two, if you count home and away fixtures) every season that never fails to entertain you for reasons varying from sheer brilliance to absolute controversial.

After the racism controversy surrounding Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez where Suarez was found guilty not based on any “evidence” but on a “balance of probabilities” (which I believe has to be the flimsiest way of deciding on one’s guilt especially in a case as sensitive as this), all the attention before this match was on the handshake between Suarez and Evra. It didn’t exactly go to plan, but didn’t come as a shock either, as Suarez decided to keep walking without shaking Evra’s hand. And that set the tone, not for the match, but for the aggressive tussles during the half-time interval and a somewhat out-of-place victory dance at the end of the match.

[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocEAlrxvTeQ&feature=player_embedded]]

After the match there was a huge media outcry on the handshake snub and the bandwagon was joined by the Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, chief of PFA (Professional Footballers Association) Gordon Taylor and former MP George Galloway.

However, this whole reaction brought forward some glaring hypocrisies.

In November 2011, a few days after the Negro-gate scandal at Anfield, Sepp Blatter (head of FIFA) made a statement that all misunderstandings and bad-blood between players during a match should be brushed off with a simple hand-shake after the match. What happens on the pitch should stay and get settled on the pitch. The Football Association (FA) and the media, fresh from a racism controversy and probably still seething from losing out on Football World Cup hosting, launched a scathing attack on Sepp Blatter, condemning him for his appalling “handshake” remark and even going further by demanding his resignation.

Now, guess who was adamant to end the Evra-Suarez controversy with a handshake before the Manchester United vs Liverpool match? I find it extremely hypocritical that FA and the media absolutely ridiculed Sepp Blatter for his “handshake” remark, and then scrapped the “handshake” routine in the Chelsea vs QPR match that involved, the accused England captain, John Terry and are now blaming Suarez for not going through a handshake and burying the matter with it. Isn’t that what Blatter meant in first place?

Also joining in the FA’s hypocrisy band-wagon was Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Chief Gordon Taylor, who claimed to be “sick in the stomach” by Suarez’s snub to the handshake that should have brought an end to the whole racism episode. This is of course coming from the same person who is desperately trying to support the current (care-taker) manager for the English national team Stuart Pearce, who racially abused Paul Ince during a match between Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in 1994. Back then even Mr Taylor tried to cover for him by claiming that “Stuart regrets what he said. It was in the heat of the moment.”

No nice handshakes back then?

Then, after the match, Manchester United’s manager, Alex Ferguson decided to add his two cents by calling Suarez a disgrace and a player that Liverpool FC should get rid of immediately. Just like Mr Ferguson got rid of Peter Schmeichel for racially abusing Arsenal player or Eric Cantona for launching a Kung-Fu kick at a spectator or Rio Ferdinand for missing a drugs test or Wayne Rooney for his swearing into a cameraas well as holding the club for ransom and Ryan Giggs who was busy taking out injunction after injunction in a desperate effort to avoid being named and shamed for his “role model” antics off the field.

But one statement that proved to be the icing on the cake came from an ex-member of British parliament who claimed that “if Dalglish doesn’t sack Luis Suarez, the home secretary should deport him.”

This is the same politician who once had this to say about Saddam Hussein. So in a nutshell, deporting a sportsman for not shaking hands but keep people like Abu Qatada who has admitted links with al Qaeda and has openly made hate-sermons threatening the world with violence.

Sadly, all these hypocrisies have been very conveniently ignored in this whole handshake episode, perhaps because at the end of the day it’s not the hypocrisies that sell, it’s the controversies!

Read more by Ahmed here. Follow him @Ahmed_Saleem.

WRITTEN BY:
Ahmed Saleem A Brunel University graduate working in Lancashire, UK. He blogs at http://salloos.wordpress.com/ and tweets @Ahmed_Saleem

The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (29)

Ace with Pace | 12 years ago | Reply The writer of this Blog is a die hard Liverpool Fan, So how can you expect a fair judgment from him. The fact is Suarez is a cheat he was banned for biting someone ear off, He was the one who used his hand to stop a goal in worldcup, And thats a fact

Nausherwan Saleem | 12 years ago | Reply @Rukunuddin Aslam: I don't think there's a need to come to such hasty generalizations. Liverpool are doing really well in the domestic cup competitions. However, their league form has been poor I admit. They need to sure up their back four, and get someone to support Suarez in attack. Downing and Henderson have been particularly disappointing and they are mediocre players at best at the moment, although Andy Carrol has improved in the past few weeks. Also, Lucas Leiva who has been their most improved player is out injured for the rest of the season, which was a major blow. I still think they can be a top 6 team this season, if not top 4. However, off the ball distractions and inviting too much media attention for all the wrong reasons, are not helping their cause.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Nausherwan Saleem | 12 years ago | Reply @Ahmed Saleem: First of all, let me tell you that I am very much aware of FA rules regarding appeals. I agree that even if Liverpool football club had appealed the ban, it might not have made a difference as there was a possibility of either reducing the ban, keeping it to 8 games, or even increasing it. Fair enough. However, the reason why I put forward this argument was to suggest that had Liverpool appealed the ban, and not gone with what the so-called "independent" FA committee said, it would have sent the right sort of message ahead to the footballing community, that the club and Suarez himself firmly believed he was in the clear. However, in not doing so, the club and Suarez hurt their own integrity. I believe, according to the defintion of hypocrisy, this sort of handling of the issue fits the bill completely. It's not an issue then of the FA's verdict because I personally believe the FA has handled everything very poorly and there has always been a pre-determined bias towards their top English players (JT and Rooney, in particular as mentioned in my replies above). As far as Evra's role in all of this is concerned, calling him a "liar" etc etc. is completely unjustified. The fact of the matter is that he is not a South American, etc. etc. and is not aware of what sort of lingo is used there. Based on the merits of this incident ALONE, he had a right to a full investigation and he wasn't sitting on the "independent" commission to make the decision for them. I don't understand the sentiment coming out of Liverpool, the fact that they believe the whole world is against them, and that Suarez is some sort of god who can never go wrong. Furthermore, had Liverpool and Suarez kept to their word and not been hypocritical, SAF would never have labelled him a "disgrace". He even admitted that Evra was wrong to celebrate the way he did. In the end, Liverpool handled the case very poorly. Their evidence was unsubstantial and they have only themselves to blame for it. The FA will always handle events poorly, but I don't think any blame should be attached to SAF, MUFC and Evra in this entire matter. As far as the "hypocrisies" of SAF in the past are concerned, it doesn't matter whether he publicly condemned his players or not. The fact of the matter is that appropriate action was taken. He did not go on public record supporting his players for their mistakes.

Jamal | 12 years ago | Reply @Rukunuddin Aslam: I think Liverpool FC has struggled yes but they have also won plenty. Perhaps you are forgetting Istanbul in 2005 or the final in Athens or winning the UEFA cup, Carling Cup, FA Cup and Charity Shield essentially every trophy apart from the PL in the last 10-15 years. Theres plenty for LFC supporters to be proud of. A whole generation of older Liverpool fans support the club because of the ethics, traditions and values of people like Bill Shankly, and Bob Paisely whose teams not only played attractive football but won trophies as well. So yes if they look at the past for motivation whats wrong with that? As far as Utd is concerned they have now dominated for 20 odd years with a brilliant manager. Do you think Liverpool can replace them overnight? Nothings achieved by calling your club an embarassment especially considering they have the chance to win two domestic cups and challenge for the top 4. I believe Suarez should have shook hands with Evra. The striker embarassed the LFC management by saying he would and to backtrack on that simply made him look petty.

Olga | 12 years ago | Reply @Ahmed Saleem: So we are finally in agreement the he used the word "Negro". FA rules: FA Rule E3(1): Insulting words towards fellow players FA Rule E3(2): Insulting words used included a reference to fellow players color Don't need to be an expert here but its pretty obvious he broke the rules. FA does not need to give him the courtesy of Uruguay/Spanish/Latin experts. Living in UK you must be well aware if one used such words he would be punished based on the law of the land and no benefit of nativity will be given. I am not saying FA is not hypocritical. But I think you chose the wrong incident for your point. The handshake incident has left Coach, LFC, Liverpool legends embarrassed and brought apologizes from the coach and Suarez himself. If Suarez is tagging along with the FA and the Club, and accepting something he did not do then he is the biggest hypocrite!

Rukunuddin Aslam | 12 years ago | Reply I am a Liverpool supporter. And I don't care what the Commission did and what Suarez did or what Evra did. I can't believe that our club has become such an embarrassment to the world that we keep on talking about stuff that happened in the past. I can find traces of this mentality throughout this article and I find traces of all this in every single Liverpool fan glorifying the club's past back in the 70s and 80s. When will we learn that football matches and trophies are not won by crying over spilt milk. The difference between Manchester United is that every time they go through a crisis, they bounce back. Hypocritical as their manager may be, he still finds a way to win games and silence clubs like ours. Truth is no one will even remember this whole Evra-Suarez debate. But people will remember matches and trophies won.

Ahmed Saleem | 12 years ago | Reply @Olga: First of all...Suarez DIDNOT admit to racial abuse.. read following from the report: (104.) Mr Suarez's evidence was that simultaneously with the blowing of the whistle, Mr Evra said to him "Don't touch me, South American". Mr Suarez took this to be a reference to his touching Mr Evra's arm on the goal-line a few moments earlier. Mr Suarez said that he turned to Mr Evra and said "Por que, negro?" And this is the expert's verdict: (194.) The experts concluded their observations on Mr Suarez's account as follows. If Mr Suarez used the word "negro" as described by Mr Suarez, this would not be interpreted as either offensive or offensive in racial terms in Uruguay and Spanish-speaking America.. It really amazes me that in a race to condemn Suarez of RACISM, no body has given any thought of Suarez's own cultural background and more importantly there is a HUGE difference between Negro (UruguaySpanish version pronounced as NEGGGRO) and the common word Negro (pronounced Knee-gro) .. And please, if you have any video evidences, kindly let me know.. as far as i am aware there has been no evidence...otherwise we wont be debating this issue here .. yes, there is a video but it doesnt prove Suarez using the words that Evra claims.. and somehow, not even the most able lip-readers could confirm what evra claimed ...

Ahmed Saleem | 12 years ago | Reply @Prasun Banerjee: Hi Prasun.. couple of things.. based on your use of the word "negerito" i can quite confidently say that you havent read the report and based your comment on media reports.. let me clarify ... At no point Suarez admitted using the term "negerito".. this term was reported by a newspaper who were drip-fed by manchester united on the ongoing investigations.. the proof?? this term has been used only once in the whole investigation process and used by Javier Hernandez in his witness statement and you might not be aware of this, he actually said that what Suarez said wasnt racist at all .. if you read the report you will find that the panel dismissed hernandez's statement (point 29) saying that since he is not an "expert" in spanish, he cannot comment on the usage of that particular term by Suarez..(regardless of the fact that spanish is hernandez's first language.) Coming to what Suarez actually admitted to saying.. read following: 104- Mr Suarez's evidence was that simultaneously with the blowing of the whistle, Mr Evra said to him "Don't touch me, South American". Mr Suarez took this to be a reference to his touching Mr Evra's arm on the goal-line a few moments earlier. Mr Suarez said that he turned to Mr Evra and said "Por que, negro?".... (this was the one and only time Suarez admits of using this term.. and it was at this point the camera shows evra reacting) and this is what the experts appointed by the FA had to say about it: 194- The experts concluded their observations on Mr Suarez's account as follows. If Mr Suarez used the word "negro" as described by Mr Suarez, this would not be interpreted as either offensive or offensive in racial terms in Uruguay and Spanish-speaking America... hope this point is clear... regarding your point about not going to court.. Well, this case could only go to court if the victim (evra) or a member of public report it to the police.. since it wasnt reported to the police, FA dealt with it in-house.. secondly, FA is the authority overlooking the premier league.. therefore when a club agree to play in the premier league it automatically enters into an agreement where they cannot take the FA to court .. otherwise the FA can throw them out.. now since Suarez is under contract with LFC who are playing in Premier League, the player cannot go to court against this decision. but once Suarez leaves English league, he can (and i am quite sure he will) take FA to court for defamation and wrongful verdict... This case has no legs to stand in court of law where the verdict is given on basis of evidence that proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt.. not on basis of probabilities... this case would have been thrown out of the court in the first hearing since there is NO evidence and NO witnesses..

T | 12 years ago | Reply “Mr Suarez’s evidence was unreliable in relation to matters of critical importance. It was, in part, inconsistent with the evidence, especially the video footage” @Olga I bet you haven't even studied the video footage or the Commission's "reasons" behind that statement. THIS is the problem. Too many people have taken the word of the FA Commission as gospel rather than look at the facts for themselves and make their own judgement rather than rely on that of others. The Commission's published 'reasons' in their 115 page report are highly subjective and deeply flawed. Their skewed interpretation of the video footage is verging on ridiculous and the whole process in this case reeks of a pre-determined bias. This real question people should be asking here is was justice fairly served. I believe the majority of those who have actually studied the case would answer that it has not and any allegation of racism in the UK should be judged in a Court of Law under the criminal justice system rather than by some corrupt sporting body using it's own kangaroo court to carry out it's own agenda!

Ahmed Saleem | 12 years ago | Reply @Nausherwan Saleem: I am not defending Suarez for not shaking hands.. IF he had agreed (not forced to agreed) he should have gone through the handshakes but i highly doubt anyone in Suarez's position would have shook hands.. anyways that was not the point of this article.. it was more about pointing out double standards of some individuals/institutions who made sure they make their presence felt.. However, i believe that handshakes before the match are stupid.. the reason i have already mentioned in one of the above replies.. Regarding your point about LFC not appealing the ban, you may not be aware of how the FA rulings work.. FA made it clear that the "verdict" cannot be challenged. The only thing LFC could challenge was the length of the ban and even that would have been increased if they lose the appeal. the appeal would have been dealt with yet another "Independent" panel put forward by "FA" itself.. Do you see an issue there? or do i have to really simplify it? The FA who brought the charge forward picked their own panel to justify the verdict .. and btw, the guilty verdict %age in such appeals is 99.5%... In what world is that called an "independent" hearing ??? On your second post, it doesnt really matter how much ban cantona, ferdinand etal served and what fine they paid.. my point in the article was did ferguson then go ahead calling these players a disgrace and get rid of them? oh, and btw, cantona was found guilty based on solid hard evidence (video of him attacking) and so was ferdinand (drug test report)..

Olga | 12 years ago | Reply @Joey: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16375963 "Mr Suarez's evidence was unreliable in relation to matters of critical importance. It was, in part, inconsistent with the evidence, especially the video footage" P.S. My comments were aimed at the author. In the future I wont reply to any Tom, Dick or Joey!

Joey | 12 years ago | Reply This what happens when justice has NOT been served. And Olga there is not a single video evidence against Suarez and he admits not saying anything racist. Get the facts right or not write anything at all.

Awais | 12 years ago | Reply Ah, my attention turned from Suarez and Evra to Arsenal's loss to Sunderland, no FA Cup, and chances are no Champions League. Injuries + bad tactics = Arsenals decline.

Sohail Jiva | 12 years ago | Reply @Nausherwan Saleem The whole article is lost on you, but what would you expect some one who notices 1 or 2 things in a well written article and proceeds to try and discredit the author for not mentioning Suarez biting or other rubbish. This article was about the Hypocrisy of the FA, Gordon Taylor, Alex Ferguson , the media and press. It was highlighting the fact that everyone in this "saga" have their own issues to contend with first before taking the proverbial bat to Luis Suarez. This article has highlighted that The FA has double standards, Alex Ferguson has double standards, Gordon Taylor has double standards and especially the media have double standards. and lets not go near the double standards of patrice evra. He claimed he was called a "nigger" and went on to say (to the FA panel) "it is a word I don't like to use" and yet he is caught on camera shouting the same word to Hasslebaink and funnily enough, frank lampard despite the fact he doesn't need to. This is readily available on YouTube. so as the author of the article was trying to point out. There has been a lot of hypocrisy over this matter. if you need it to be spelt out then I am able to do so. If you need me to dumb it down for you further let me know and I shall try my best.

Sharjeel_Red_Devil | 12 years ago | Reply its amazing and surprising that one could even defend suarez.. bro, this is the age of electronic media where people judge you through it so comparing this event to those of 90s is not rational.. and where did hypocrisy go when DALGISH SAID SUAREZ WILL SHAKE HANDS BUT NOT SURE OF THE OTHER PARTY (EVRA)...??!?!

Olga | 12 years ago | Reply @Ahmed Saleem: I change my mind, I think you have done your homework well.... But choose to present the facts as it pleases you... wonder whats the motivation there? Apart from loads of video evidence and Suarez's own admission of the racist abuse...there still is a doubt on the occurence of the event!? Further more you said FA was on personal vendetta against Blatter after failing to win the world cup and asked for his dismissal when he supported no punishment for on-field racism. Rather proposed a handshake at the end. I guess that will help kick-out racism from millions watching the beautiful game?! You claim to be an Asian guy in UK who has faced racism...asian might have faced rascism for past 100 years.... blacks have been persecuted from 1000s of years. And not once in your article I have seen you criticize Suarez's actions.

Nausherwan Saleem | 12 years ago | Reply As far as Cantona's actions were concerned, "Cantona was arrested and convicted for assault, resulting in a two week prison sentence. This was overturned in the appeal court and instead he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service. In accordance with the Football Association's wishes, Manchester United suspended Cantona for the remaining four months of the 1994–95 season, which ruled him out of first team action as United were still in the hunt for a second double. He was also fined £20,000. The Football Association then increased the ban to eight months (up to and including 30 September 1995) and fined him a further £10,000. The FA Chief Executive Graham Kelly described his attack as "a stain on our game" that brought shame on football. FIFA then confirmed the suspension as worldwide, meaning that Cantona couldn't escape the ban by transferring to a foreign club.[17] Manchester United also fined Cantona two weeks' wages[18] and he was stripped of the French captaincy"... Rio Ferdinand was banned for 8 months for missing his drugs test. Wayne Rooney was banned for swearing into the camera and later admitted he was wrong. He didn't need his club's shirt sponsors and the club's hierarchy to tell him to go apologize.

Prasun Banerjee | 12 years ago | Reply Some queries ... Since the article has so many hyperlinks to the incidents of the Man Utd manager failing to discipline his players ... why isnt there any hyperlink to Suarez biting an opponent on the field or the handball to eliminate Ghana in the World Cup ? Regarding the point made in your response to comment where you accuse Evra of lying to an unbelievable extent ... what is the basis of the judgement ? If Suarez has been punished based on the flimsiest of evidences ... why wasnt the matter challenged in court ? Why didnt LFC appeal ? Also if my memory serves me right , Suarez has never denied using the word negrito to address Evra , his defence was the context of the word which in Uruguay can be used as friendly banter where Evra took interpreted it as abuse. Your blog and the subsequent comment is suggestive of the fact that the incident never happened. Which is not correct in my opinion. I dont think you have defended racism anywhere but you have conveniently decided that the incident didnt happen.

Nausherwan Saleem | 12 years ago | Reply I think this article is a pathetic attempt to defend the actions of Luis Suarez and Kenny Dalglish. Sure, you support your players through thick and thin. But when there was a "clear indication" from Liverpool Football Club that there WOULD be handshakes, and that SUAREZ would shake Evra's hand, I don't see the point in why he didn't. I don't think that a club of Liverpool's stature would make such a statement WITHOUT the clear approval from Suarez and Dalglish himself. In going against his word, Suarez has only disgraced himself (add that to the infamous incident when he bit his opponent in a game in the Dutch League when he was at Ajax). Add to Dalglish's TOTAL IGNORANCE of the handshake affair in the post-match interview with Geoff Shreeves. You are managing one of the biggest clubs in the world and you don't know what your star player has done? AMUSING. I personally really like Suarez as a player. He's a terrific player. But I was seriously disappointed in his actions. Moreover, I ask you this question: If Suarez and LFC think that he wasn't "guilty", then why didn't they appeal the ban? Why? You have to have the guts in order to stand your ground and do WHAT you believe in. Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in England. The second most successful in the League. I'm sure you'd agree that a club with such a stature CAN take a stand and STICK to it? As far as John Terry's actions are concerned, yes I agree the FA has double standards with regards to that. Add to that the pleas from FA to UEFA to reduce Wayne Rooney's 3-match ban to 2 matches for the Euros. Moreover, lets please take off the field matters like Ryan Giggs' "injunction after injunction" and Wayne Rooney's "holding the club ransom" out of this.

Ahmed Saleem | 12 years ago | Reply @Olga: I have not defended racism anywhere in this article... I just highlighted the hypocrisy of certain institutions and individuals .. Now since you have brought this issue up here,s my two-pence worth.. Regarding FA and their action against racism, John Terry wasn't reported to the police by FA but a member of public.. and FA waited a whole 6 months after the Terry incident to strip him off the captaincy ... FA also decided to scrap the handshake routine before QPR Chelsea match to save their England captain from embarrassment .. The Suarez issue.. FA brought the charge against him..assembled a 3 man "independent " panel.. and found him guilty not based on any evidence but on probabilities .. the panel comprised of 3 British English speaking members.. to decide on an incident that took place in "Spanish " between two non-english players... I can see the seriousness in their actions against racism .. The language expert they brought in was an Englishman from University of Manchester expert in language and culture of Columbia ... to give a verdict on a player from "Uruguay " .. I can certainly see the seriousness .. Its not defending racism .. its about being fair ... And I am an Asian guy living in uk.. if you think I have never come across racism then you live in a dream world!

T | 12 years ago | Reply Excellent article Ahmed I and others who have scrutinized this case are appalled by the actions of Evra, Ferguson, the FA and Lord Ouseley among others. The Commission's published reasons are deeply flawed and reflect a pre-determined bias. There is no 'proof' whatsoever and Suarez was comdemned by an organization which is clearly not fit for purpose when administering justice with regard to alleged racist acts which are actually deemed to be "criminal" in British Law and hence, this farce should never have been adjudicated by a corrupt sporting body using "the balance of probabilities". The whole case stinks of corruption and agendas. Suarez was a sacrificial lamb and has been effectively branded a racist when infact, the evidence under deep analysis actually corroborates his version of events more so than Evra's. And of course, let us not forget that the Commission state clearly in thefinal paragraph of their report that, I quote, "Luis Suarez is not a racist". A total travesty and a digusting abuse of power by certain ruthless individuals is the only conclusion one can come to following deep analysis of this case.

Finda Bangura | 12 years ago | Reply To err is human, but to forgive is divine, so please don't make mountain out of handshake. Squrez suffered and Evra was abused and shamed, so by mere handshake u cannot conclude that everything is okay between them. Pls. Call them and make them understand what is sportmanship, then they we burrie the hackets.

J Ronan | 12 years ago | Reply It's great to someone wipe away the vile and investigate the facts and above all tell it how you see it.I tip my hat to you.Thank you

ahmed saleem | 12 years ago | Reply @nayeem: First of all I do not decide when does a blog entry go online.. its up to the Express Tribune to decide.. Secondly regarding Giggs, I should have phrased it better.. he took a "Super-Injunction".. for those who don't know, a super injunction basically means that you take an injunction to stop anyone talking about a certain "incident " and then you top it up with a "super-injunction" to stop anyone even mentioning about any injunction being taken ..thats what was meant by "injunction after injunction " .. and I haven't even mentioned why Giggs' brother hates him ...

ahmed saleem | 12 years ago | Reply U@Feroze Khan: I don't think many of your kind exist in Pakistan .. its mostly Man-united, Chelsea and arsenal supporters I come across .. Regarding your disappointmemt with what Suarez did, if you are referring to the handshake incident then I ask you two questions .. your answers will probably help you understand the situation : If you were Suarez, would you shake hands with someone who you believe has lied to unbelievable extent in order to get your name tainted (and succeeded) ?? (Remember Suarez denied saying any such thing).. If, on other hand, you were Evra, would you like to shake hands with someone who "racially " abused you 10/5/7 times and didn't even apologize after being found guilty? This whole Suarez - Evra handshake was a stupid idea in my opinion .. I have never taken that as a gesture of sportsmanship .. if they (FA) are so bothered about it why don't they do it after the match when we have a winner and a loser..lets see the real sportsmanship then.. no logic in shaking hands before the Match and then going on to kick lumps out of each other and faking injuries to get opposition player sent off...

Olga | 12 years ago | Reply I think the author has not done his homework properly. The matter is about racism not a silly handshake. FA issued an 8 match ban on Suarez and Terry is under police investigation. This shows how much serious FA is about racism and they should be commended. Blatter's proposed handshake would mean players carry on racially abusing each other and would get away by just shaking hands at the end. Which is just sick! I think author has never faced racism in his life, otherwise he wont have written an article that would supported racism its slightest context!

allen | 12 years ago | Reply @nayeem: how do you know he didnt take out more then one injunction?

nayeem | 12 years ago | Reply yar kafi late ho gaye. and ryan giggs took one injunction and not 'injunctions after injunctions'

Feroze Khan | 12 years ago | Reply Wow, I am a LFC fan and I was personally disappointed with what Suarez ended up doing, but looking at this article, it makes so much sense now..it is infact a hypocrital world..

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ

English Premier League: Handshakes and hypocrisy

More by this writer

FOLLOW US