Sponsors urged Reds action
Standard Chartered complained to Liverpool over Suarez
LIVERPOOL sponsor Standard Chartered has confirmed it raised concerns with Reds chiefs over striker Luis Suarez’s latest flashpoint with his Manchester United nemesis Patrice Evra.
The Anfield club issued a flurry of apologies on Sunday after severe criticism of Suarez’s refusal to shake hands with Evra before Saturday’s Premier League match, which United won 2-1.
It is thought to have followed intervention from their American owners, Fenway Sports Group, and yesterday it emerged Standard Chartered, which pays £20m a year to sponsor Liverpool’s shirts, was also perturbed.
The bank said in a statement: “We were very disappointed by Saturday’s incident and have discussed our concerns with the club.”
Suarez (inset), who was banned for eight games in December for using a reference to Evra’s skin colour in an on-field row earlier this season, apologised for his snub, having told bosses he intended to shake hands.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who accused his post-match interviewer of being “bang out of order” as he continued his defence of Suarez, also said sorry on Sunday.