Former Newcastle defender and Show Racism the Red Card campaigner Olivier Bernard is critical of Liverpool's response to Luis Suarez's ban. The Uruguayan striker was fined £40,000 and banned for eight games by the Football Association on Monday for allegedly racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
The players showed their support for their team-mate on Wednesday by releasing a joint statement ahead of their Premier League clash with Wigan and wearing Suarez t-shirts during their warm-up at the DW Stadium.
"I can understand the club's side of it, but in society we can't accept racism and give support to a player who has used racist words. I just think it is a bit wrong."
He added: "It made it allowed for everybody to use racist words and it will be okay. It's not okay to use racist language and the message they sent out yesterday was a bit wrong.
"I don't mind them giving support to Mr Suarez, but I just think it's a bit wrong to wear the t-shirt because that means they have allowed racist language. I just don't understand it."
Asked what Liverpool should have done, Bernard continued: "Probably accept it, accept that the player used a racist word. That would make everybody understand that Luis Suarez is not a racist person, but he did use a racist word and he should be punished. That should then be the end of it."
He said: "What the FA have done is make a real point that racism has no place in England and no place in football and no place in our society. I think they have made that clear and I'm pretty happy with their decision." "I really didn't think it was fine to wear the t-shirt," the Frenchman told Sky Sports News HD.
