I can't say I'm an expert on the Spanish language as are none of the pundits or the FA are, but if no-one else in the Man Utd team that day noticed it, or reported it.. Then possibly the word that Suarez spoke wasn't racist.
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So why did he reference Evra's colour in the middle of a heated exchange ?!

Did Suarez decide to try and make friends by complimenting him on his skin colour. Just think about it sensibly for a second.

I couldn't care less really about them shaking hands or not.

The term/word he used is a word that obviously contains a reference to colour, but it isn't a racist word where he comes from.. Only Evra made a complaint about it.. The other 20 people in the box that day didn't notice anything. Evra was looking to cause trouble, and he hit the jackpot

Okay we are making progress, what other people did or did not see doesn't matter, lets even ignore Evra's testimony and stick with just what Suarez admitted. Surely that is biased enough to your side of the argument to continue... yes ?

So when he references Evra's colour in the middle of their argument, is it going to be in a complimentary or friendly way ?

Your missing the point. They could have been having a love in, argument or casual conversation.. The point is, the word Suarez used wasn't a racist term. It was a reference to colour yes, but not in a derogatory manner.

It was a term that can be used negatively or positively...

But lets even ignore that for the moment (I am really giving you all the cards here) explain to me how you bring someone's colour up in the middle of a heated argument ?

The point is, the word Suarez used wasn't a racist term.

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Maybe back in his own country it isn't but context is everything in this case.

Evra clearly felt insulted by the term and the FA agreed...

Deafening silence...

I hear what you're saying DB but if every player took the hump at everything that was said on the pitch, we'd have leagues full of banned players. I understand that context is key to this incident but I also have a sneaking suspicion that Evra knew what he was up to. I don't defend racism at all, it has no place in society but I honestly believe Suarez wasn't being racist. The problem with this case is that its open to everyone's interpretation.

I am with Debear on this one - context is everything and to make a reference to a players skin colour/race/ethnicity is out of order.

I hear what you're saying DB but if every player took the hump at everything that was said on the pitch

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True, true.

Perhaps the FA took the opportunity to send a message as well.

A message I'm sure we all agree on.

It's one of the things that may eventually alienate me from professional footy in the future altogether.

So called professional footballers behaviour...

I think Kenny has made an erse of himself and Liverpool in his reaction to the handshake that wasn't.

Jukebox did a steward on the side of the pitch not hear it aswell?

TBF Heid,we never heard anythin like Fergie's outburst yesterday when for example,cantona was kickin people roon the stands,or squeakyclean rio was missin drug tests......

I think Kenny has made an erse of himself and Liverpool in his reaction to the handshake that wasn't.

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Kenny's strong reaction did make me question how cut and dried this issue is.

He was pretty resolute on the matter...

United banned Cantona for 6 months straight away, if he had kept up that kind of behaviour on his return I don't doubt he would be have been out of there, but in reality it was a one off incident.

What does missing a drugs test have to do with anything, you do now he offered them to test his hair meaning they could track any drug usage months back. So you think what Suarez has done recently to be comparable to missing a drugs test ?!

Madness...

McCann no a steward did not hear it, it was pretty much Evra's word vs Suarez. They each had witnesses who they talked too during and after the game and Suarez testimony was unreliable and inconsistent with his and his witnesses testimony.

I think the clincher was Suarez confessing he had referenced his colour, although he did try to paint their argument as a friendly one (which the video evidence contradicts)

DC.. Just made my day pal <laug>

Naw. I've lost 100% respect for him. What a neatly mouthed, spiteful response from the eejit when asked about the handshake. Grow a pair Dalgludh. Admit Suarez was wrong. You were wrong and you brought the game the club and yourselves into disrepute. You had the opportunity to draw a line under the whole sorry saga and managed only to exacerbate it. What a sad day and a sad individual trying to defend the indefensible

*mealy-mouthed

What a sad day and a sad individual trying to defend the indefensible
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shut both clubs down,get parliament involved

the bile from both sets of supporters is as bad if not worse than the old firm.

bit he said,bit he did

pash

Disgusting of United to complain about a player being racially abused, I agree troll. When will people learn to just take their abuse and shut up, some people just don't respect their superiors any more...

both sets of support sing equally disgusting songs

shut them both down

Whereas Celtic and Rangers are paragons of virtue ?!

You will very rarely hear Munich or Hillsborough songs in either ground.

The Old Firm are tackling it and trying to rid our game of certain songs.

Both United and Liverpool don't care.