Petulance, Hypocrisy And Apology

 The fallout from yesterday's game continues....

 Luis Suarez refused Patrice Evra's handshake and has been thoroughly and roundly condemned for it from all quarters. Suarez' action was childish and petulant but in my opinion not really out of order, Liverpool player dislikes Man Utd player, and vice versa, is a given in football not a headline, rivalry is the biggest part of the sport we love and taking that out of the game would mean all fixtures blend into one another, there would be no 'big' matches, just a set of fixtures all of equal importance. But was Suarez the only one to refuse the handshake? Eagle eyed Liverpool fans have spotted and uploaded to youtube (search for it if you like) slow motion clips of the 'handshake' and Evra clearly lowers his hand as Suarez approaches him, maybe this helped make up the Uruguayan's mind as to whether or not to shake.

 Kenny Dalglish after the game defended Suarez and has faced criticism for that. It has emerged today that our number 7 had led club officials and his manager to believe he intended to partake in the pre match handshake and they feel very angry at being misled by him. Kenny has been made to look foolish and he more than anybody deserves the apology from Luis Suarez that has been issued today. Patrice Evra's actions during and after the game mean he deserves the apology much less than those who have stuck by Suarez, Evra let himself down with his attempt to hack Suarez after 25 seconds and his childish post match skip of honour and should also issue an apology. Whether Suarez is right or wrong over the entire saga is a debate that will probably never really be settled but maybe the time to move on has arrived and hearing him say sorry is a good start, hopefully those who have hurried to lay into him will now accept the apology and publicly back his decision to issue it.

 When I started this blog I was determined not to let it turn into a vehicle for criticism of our rivals but occasionally somebody comes out with something that needs addressing and replying to. One such person who should take a long hard look at his own part in the reaction to yesterday's events is Alex Ferguson, he was obviously riled after yesterday's match but his comments were hypocritical, inflammatory and unnecessary. He claimed that in refusing to shake Evra's hand Suarez is a disgrace and should never play for Liverpool again. While his criticism of Suarez for the lack of a handshake is valid, his use of the word disgrace and his sentiment that the man should never play for Liverpool again is simply out of order and certainly not what he has practiced himself during his managerial career. Eric Cantona leapt into a crowd and kung fu kicked a supporter in the chest, did Ferguson consider this a disgrace and say the man should never play for the club again or did he give him a second chance? When Rio Ferdinand didn't bother to turn up for his drugs test and got away with only an eight month ban did Ferguson call him a disgrace and move him on from the club? When Wayne Rooney was caught with prostitutes while his pregnant wife was at home did Ferguson call him a disgrace and end his Man Utd career? When it emerged Ryan Giggs had been having a long affair with his brother's wife did Ferguson say he was disgraceful or did he say 'new contract Ryan?'? It's good to know where his moral boundaries are, these examples of human behaviour are all acceptable at Manchester United Football Club but refusing a handshake isn't? Are you sure about that Sir Alex? Youtube footage also exists of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane refusing to shake Patrick Viera's hand before a Man Utd v Arsenal fixture but both of these players managed to continue their careers at the club under the management of Mr Ferguson. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he made his comments in the heat of the moment without thinking about his own previous actions and look forward to his own public apology.

 One other comment made by Ferguson was that Liverpool should sell Suarez. Before you give any thought to the possibility of this and really think about what he was suggesting ask yourself one question : Do you believe that Sir Alex Ferguson would sanction the sale of any player from Manchester United in order for the club to improve relations with Liverpool? I'll let you work out your own answer to that one...