Suarez shouldn't play for Liverpool again! Fergie hits out 'disgraceful' striker after snub

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 12:09 EDT, 11 February 2012

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson branded Luis Suarez a 'disgrace to Liverpool Football Club' and claimed he should never play for them again following his refusal to to shake Patrice Evra's hand ahead of today's Barclays Premier League clash at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils captain offered his hand to the Uruguay international, who was banned for eight matches for racially abusing the defender, but he bypassed the Frenchman and went straight to goalkeeper David de Gea.

Making different points: Sir Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish had vastly contrasting views of the match and its key incidents

Evra did not accept that and attempted to grab Suarez's arm to complete the formalities, but the striker shrugged him off.

Both sets of players reportedly clashed in the tunnel at half-time and again on the pitch as United celebrated their 2-1 victory.

On Suarez's refusal to shake Evra's hand, Ferguson said: 'I could not believe it, I just could not believe it.

'He's a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club, that certain player should not be allowed to play for Liverpool again.

'The history that club's got and he does that and in a situation like today could have caused a riot. I was really disappointed in that guy, it was terrible what he did.'

Snub: Luis Suarez had refused to shake hands with Patrice Evra

Ferguson added on Sky Sports: 'It created a tension, you've seen the referee didn't know what to do about it. It caught him off guard. It was a terrible start to the game, a terrible atmosphere it created.'

Asked if the pre-match handshakes should have been scrapped for the game as it was last month when John Terry and Anton Ferdinand faced each other, he said: 'That's a different issue altogether. It's never been a problem really up until this situation regarding racism, it's never been a problem.

'We've got to get our house in order in terms of fighting racism. It's an important issue in this country.

Goading: Evra later sparked another tussle when he reveled in the victory in front of Suarez as the two teams walked off

'Football's come a long way from the days of John Barnes when they were throwing bananas at him to where we are today. We can't go back. We have to go forward in a positive way and ban it altogether.'

Evra enthusiastically celebrated the win in front of Suarez at the end.

'He shouldn't have done that,' Ferguson said.

Wayne Rooney, who scored twice for United, was unwilling to get involved in the row.

When asked about it he told Sky Sports 2: 'We are all professionals, we have to go and do our jobs on the pitch. We have to concentrate on that. I think that's between the two individuals, it's not for us to get involved in.'

Evra, as United captain, had led out the side, and as Suarez, playing his first match since returning from his ban, emerged from the tunnel next to last in Liverpool's line-up he was immediately booed.

The Premier League had deemed there was no reason to cancel the handshakes, as they had done between QPR and Chelsea last month in an effort to ease tensions due to Terry's charge of racially abusing Rangers defender Ferdinand, an allegation the Chelsea captain denies.

On the match itself, Ferguson felt his side should have beaten Liverpool more comfortably.

Wayne Rooney scored twice early in the second half to put the hosts in control before Suarez pulled one back to set up a nervous finish.

Blasted: Rooney gave the game its spark with a thunderous volley in the second half

Double trouble: Moments later Rooney slotted home from Antonio Valencia's pass

'I was disappointed it's ended up 2-1,' Ferguson said. 'Maybe we did tend to just try and play out the game, keep possession and not really threaten in the way we did before we got the goal. That's the only fault I can find with the players because right through the team they played some fantastic football.'

United might have taken the lead in the first half, but Paul Scholes' header was well saved by goalkeeper Jose Reina.

Ferguson added: 'I thought Danny Welbeck was terrific, particularly in the first half. Scholesy was unlucky with his header, the goalkeeper had a good save.

'I thought we were really well on top of the game. It's just getting that goal and of course Wayne has scored and then two minutes later scored another one which was a great start to the second half for us.'

Too little, too late: Suarez gave his side some hope with a smart strike late on

Suarez halved the deficit 10 minutes from time and Ferguson admitted it was a nervous wait for the final whistle.

'Oh crikey me, I think my heart's still out there,' he said. 'It was nervy in the sense you were playing Liverpool and they've come back from 2-0 down to 2-1 and you know football, anything can happen.'

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish admitted Rooney's brace just after the break all but killed of his side's hopes.

'Obviously the goal goals coming as quick as they did made it very difficult for us to try and get anything from the game,' he said.

'To the boys' credit they got back and got a goal, but I think overall you could say they (United) were the better side. But you would expect them to be at home.'