Liverpool have been forced to issue an apology
after an embarrassing mistake led to video footage of an alleged
racist gesture by a fan being broadcast on their official
website.
Highlights of Saturday’s FA Cup win over Manchester United
were available to watch on Monday afternoon, but they contained a
clip of the alleged gesture, for which a 59-year-old man was
arrested at the weekend.
Liverpool will issue a life ban to the man if he is found
guilty of a racial offence, but admitted that they had erred by
allowing the footage to be broadcast.
A spokesman said: ‘We can confirm that footage featuring
an alleged incident during the match has mistakenly appeared on the
club’s website.
‘This was a mistake, it should not have been included and
we are sorry it happened. It was removed immediately when it was
brought to our attention.’
Patrice Evra was booed during the game at Anfield, which
was the first meeting between the sides since the Luis Suarez
affair, and PFA chief Gordon Taylor believes players may be
deterred from reporting racist abuse after witnessing his
treatment.
Taylor said: ‘The booing of Evra was unwelcome. For
someone to be booed for reporting racist comments is not something
we want to see happen.
Mistake: Footage was shown on the club's website
‘Black players may be worried about reporting such
things if there is going to be a backlash like
this.’
Liverpool face Wolves on Tuesday night and the main focus
of attention at Molineux will be Andy Carroll, following reports
about a proposed swap involving him and Manchester City striker
Carlos Tevez.
A deal would have been implausible, given that Tevez’s
£225,000-per-week wages would have shattered Liverpool’s pay
structure, but a phone conversation took place between Liverpool’s
director of football Damien Comolli and City’s football
administrator Brian Marwood.
But Dalglish said: ‘Andy has said he is very happy here.
He doesn’t regret coming here and that is the best reference you
can get.’
City boss Roberto Mancini, whose side face Everton on
Tuesday night, says he was unaware that a conversation between
Comolli and Marwood had taken place but dismissed the idea of the
deal taking place anyway.
Insistent: Dalglish rubbished reports of Carroll
leaving Liverpool
‘Carroll is a good player, he is young and
strong,’ said Mancini. ‘There was no phone call to me. I don’t know
if Brian Marwood was involved.’
Tevez has been absent since returning to Argentina without
permission in December. With hopes of a move to AC Milan still in
the balance, Tevez’s representative Kia Joorabchian has blamed
Mancini for creating ‘an impossible situation’ for the player at
City.
It brought a bemused response from the Italian on Monday.
‘I think it is very strange,’ said Mancini. ‘He always said he
wanted to leave Manchester and be closer to his family. He doesn’t
have any problem with me. I’ve always had a good relationship with
him, even after Munich. He should have been back two months ago. I
think that everybody should answer for his behaviour,
always.
Running out of time: A deal for Carlos Tevez is looking
increasingly unlikely
‘These are the rules. If one player wants to go to
another club, it’s an option for the player. But maybe for the club
it’s a big problem.’
Mancini has captain Vincent Kompany back from a four-match
ban, having lost four of his five games against David Moyes’
Everton.
Mario Balotelli remains suspended, however, and the City
boss believes his team have been treated harshly by referees
and the FA.
‘Six red cards this season, we are like Wimbledon!’ he
said. ‘My players never want to hurt other players, that is not in
their minds.’