• Premier League

Suarez right to apologise, and I do too - Dalglish

ESPN staff
February 12, 2012
Luis Suarez's courted controversy at Old Trafford © Getty Images
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Kenny Dalglish believes Luis Suarez was right to apologise for his conduct ahead of the game against Manchester United, admitting he also failed to behave "in a way befitting of a Liverpool manager".

Suarez apologised on Sunday for failing to shake the hand of Patrice Evra ahead of Saturday's early kick-off at Old Trafford - a game Liverpool ended up losing 2-1 - and was subsequently rebuked by Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre.

In the aftermath of the game Dalglish told a television interviewer he was "bang out of order" to accuse Suarez of inflaming matters, but the Scot has now admitted that the Uruguayan's conduct was wrong - and so was his.

"Ian Ayre has made the club's position absolutely clear and it is right that Luis Suarez has now apologised for what happened at Old Trafford," said Dalglish. "To be honest, I was shocked to hear that the player had not shaken hands having been told earlier in the week that he would do.

"But as Ian said earlier, all of us have a responsibility to represent this club in a fit and proper manner and that applies equally to me as Liverpool manager. When I went on TV after yesterday's game I hadn't seen what had happened, but I did not conduct myself in a way befitting of a Liverpool manager during that interview and I'd like to apologise for that."

The response from three of Liverpool's key characters follows a negative reaction in the United States to the latest incident. The New York Times said Liverpool's Boston-based owners, Fenway Sports Group, need to act in order to "repair the club's global image".

Leading with the headline "Another Ugly Incident Mars Liverpool's Good Name'', the Times wrote: "If the Fenway Sports Group is to be the responsible team owner in soccer that it has proved to be in baseball, it needs to get hold of Liverpool, its club in England's Premier League, and repair its global image fast.

"On Saturday, Liverpool lost at Manchester United, 2-1, allowing United to temporarily move into first place in the Premier League. There is no disgrace in such a loss; United, the defending English champions, are vying to keep that title this season, and they very rarely lose at home.

"But there was disgrace, witnessed by television viewers around the world, in the refusal of Liverpool's Luis Suarez to shake the hand of United's Patrice Evra before kick-off.''

The article concluded by saying: "It is time for John Henry and Tom Werner, leaders of the Fenway Group that controls Liverpool, to state clearly the direction the team will take on this issue.''

Uruguayan newspaper El Pais wrote: "Suarez was among the final players in the team. And the awaited moment arrived and created tension for several seconds. Without hesitation, Suarez avoided the hand of Evra and did not greet him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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