Rio Ferdinand has praised Jamie Carragher for his apology to Patrice Evra, but believes Liverpool remain in the wrong for their response to Luis Suarez’s racism ban.
Suarez was banned for eight games in 2011 for racially abusing Evra when the Uruguayan was at Liverpool and the Frenchman played for Manchester United.
Despite being found guilty of the charge and receiving the ban, Liverpool wore ‘Suarez 7’ T-shirts ahead of a Premier League game against Wigan in support of the controversial striker.
Carragher, who was Reds vice-captain that day, apologised to Evra for the actions on Monday, but Ferdinand believes this just highlights Liverpool’s lack of remorse as a club.
‘That’s eight years late, eight years late,’ said Ferdinand on BT Sport. ‘Testament to Jamie Carragher for apologising, eight years after the incident.
‘I was there on the pitch. At the end of the day, it’s bigger than Jamie Carragher, it’s the club.
‘Liverpool let themselves down that day, wearing t-shirts in support of someone who’s been accused of a racist comment.
‘Yet, eight years on and still the apology hasn’t come from Liverpool in that sense.’
Carragher apologised directly to Evra as they appeared in the Sky Sports studio on Monday night, saying: ‘Apologies. There is no doubt we made a massive mistake; that was obvious.
‘We got to the ground, had our lunch and then had a team meeting – I don’t know if it was the manager [Kenny Dalglish] or [coach] Steve Clarke – asking one of the players if he was still wearing the shirt, and that is the first I had heard of it.
‘I am not lying and saying I wasn’t part of it because as the club we got it wrong, and I was vice-captain.
‘I am not sure who was actually behind it. I don’t think it had anything to do with the manager Kenny.
‘I think it was the players who were close to Luis in the dressing room, who really wanted to support their mate.
‘Maybe I have to look at myself now and say I did not have the courage as an individual to say “I am not wearing it”.
‘I don’t think everyone within Liverpool Football Club thought what we were doing was right but I do think as a football club, or you as a family, your first reaction is to support them even if you know that they are wrong, and that is wrong.’
Evra explained his incredulous reaction to the t-shirts at the time: ‘This is ridiculous. It’s unbelievable. Even for the club, you put your own club into danger when you do those sorts of things.
‘This was after the ban so which message do you send to the world when you do that?’
MORE: James Milner unsure over his contract situation at Liverpool: ‘Who knows?’
MORE: Jurgen Klopp reacts after seven Liverpool stars receive Ballon d’Or nominations
