Hypocrites

Here's a scenario.

Everything that happened between Suarez and Evra took place in exactly the same way, except it happened in 2004, and Gabriel Heinze called Djibril Cissé 'negrito' several times in the course of a match.

A complaint is made and the FA investigate. Heinze says the term isn't offensive where he comes from. Man Utd make no statement. The fans take the view that no comment should be made until the evidence is heard. After long deliberations Heinze is found guilty and given a lengthy ban. Despite the fact that this coincides with a defensive injury crisis and Heinze will be badly missed, Manchester United issue a statement accepting the findings, emphasising the club's no tolerance stance against racism and imposing a further internal fine on the player. The majority of United fans applaud this response, feeling that the higher principle is more important than the short-term impact on the team, which is Heinze's fault, not that of the FA or Cissé for complaining.

That's rubbish, isn't it?

United fans would do everything they could to defend their player, cry FA victimisation, try to discredit Cissé, nitpick about the meaning - 'well, he is black, isn't he - so it's just a descriptive term'. The club would look after its commercial and associated footballing interests. Fergie would defend the player unless the evidence were completely damning.

Liverpool fans would ride a wave of righteous fury, drawing on the proud Liverpudlian left-wing traditions that seem to have fallen silent amid the recent denunciations of PC GONE MAD, etc.

I'm calling out both sides. 80% of what I've read on this forum is nakedly tribalistic defence of 'our club'.