LIVERPOOL MANAGER Kenny Dalglish has called for consistency from the Football Association in England in dealing with alleged misdemeanours by players.
Striker Luis Suarez was charged with improper conduct on Wednesday after photographs emerged allegedly showing him making an offensive gesture to the crowd following Monday’s defeat at Fulham. However, Dalglish – who is unhappy with other issues surrounding the way the FA deal with certain matters – believes there is evidence other players supposedly committing similar offences have escaped without censure.
“There’s been at least four incidents we’ve picked out where nothing has happened, not even a charge,” said the Scot, who has been fiercely critical of the treatment Suarez receives on and off the pitch.
The Uruguay international has already been charged by the FA in relation to allegations made by Manchester United defender Patrice Evra that he was racially abused in the 1-1 draw at Anfield in October. A date for that hearing, at which Suarez will deny the allegations, has still to be set.
Dalglish has often voiced his frustration at how long the process of even charging Suarez took, and believes that has not helped the striker, who is still adjusting to English football having joined from Ajax in January. “The fact it has taken nine weeks to get a decision on one of the other charges is a bit of a joke,” said Dalglish, who feels the FA’s decision to appeal Wayne Rooney’s three-match international suspension – reduced to two on appeal – sets a bad example. “I don’t think that has helped. The circus which is around about him has been caused mainly by that.”
Before Dalglish’s pre-match press conference for Saturday’s home match against QPR a screen – usually used for video analysis in team meetings – was lowered into place to show clips from the Fulham game which highlighted why Dalglish is unhappy about Suarez’s treatment on the pitch. And Dalglish believes more and more sides are targeting the player by preying on what he perceives is an unfair reputation the 24-year-old has gained for making the most of any contact from opponents.
Suarez was taunted with chants of “cheat” at Fulham on Monday and Dalglish said: “People just jump on the bandwagon and accuse him of this, that and everything else. They are entitled to tackle but tackle fairly . . . Most of the things are outside our control. What we have within our control we’ll get on with it and we believe we will get the benefit of the doubt at some stage.”
Liverpool not only lost their 11-match unbeaten run against Fulham, but they also had Jay Spearing sent off, for which his team-mates’ reaction towards referee Kevin Friend resulted in an FA charge of failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.
While Liverpool will not appeal against Spearing’s dismissal – because the rules do not allow the club to make representations in the player’s defence – they have not yet decided on a response to the other charge.
