David Cameron is expected to step into the row over racism in
football by staging a Downing Street summit on the issue.
Cameron: Expected to hold racism summit
The Prime Minister and Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt are
to hold a "round table discussion" with the sport's authorities and
players' representatives, according to the Sunday
Telegraph.
The event, scheduled for later this month, comes amid growing
fears that high-profile incidents are harming the image of the game
in England.
A fresh spat broke out on Saturday after Liverpool forward Luis
Suarez refused to shake hands with Manchester United's Patrice Evra
before the teams' match.
Suarez has only recently returned to action for Liverpool
following an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra during a
game in October.
At a charity reception last month, Mr Cameron said many people
had been "concerned by recent events" in the sport.
"My message is clear: we will not tolerate racism in Britain. It
has absolutely no place in our society and where it exists, we will
kick it out," he said.
"Our football governing bodies, clubs and footballers themselves
have a vital role to play as role models in this respect."
A source at the Premier League told the newspaper the talks at
Number 10 were expected to be "constructive and positive".
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has branded Luis Suarez's
conduct at Old Trafford as "disrespectful, inappropriate and
embarrassing".
Taylor: Wants FA involved
Suarez has found himself in the spotlight again after
refusing to shake Patrice Evra's hand before Liverpool's 2-1 defeat
to Manchester United.
The Reds striker was making his first start since he completed
an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra in the reverse fixture
at Anfield in October.
Although it had been claimed earlier in the week that Suarez
would shake Evra's hand, the fact he did not meant the entire issue
will now bubble on, with the United skipper clearly annoyed and Sir
Alex Ferguson so incensed he branded the Uruguayan "a disgrace"
immediately after the game.
And Taylor, who has worked tirelessly to stamp out racism within
the game, feels it is time for the Football Association to step
in.
"What Suarez did was disrespectful, inappropriate and
embarrassing," he said.
"If anything, Patrice Evra was the victim and he was prepared to
put his hand out.
"These players are expected to be role models but if we have a
situation where nobody accepts the findings of hearings and just
carries on regardless, all you get is anarchy.
"Now the Football Association have to step in because the whole
situation has gone too far.
"Suarez had a chance to put everything to be yesterday, in front
of a worldwide audience.
"The fact that he chose not to is, quite frankly,
depressing."
