Story highlights
- Liverpool decide not to appeal eight-game ban for Luis Suarez
- Uruguay international Suarez will start suspension immediately
- FA found Suarez gave 'unreliable' evidence to a disciplinary commission
- Suarez was accused of racially abusing Manchester Utd's Patrice Evra
Liverpool will not be appealing the eight-game ban for their Uruguay international striker Luis Suarez, the English Premier League club said Tuesday.
Suarez received the suspension and a $62,000 fine for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra in a match in October.
Their decision follows the weekend release by the English Football Association (FA) of the findings of its Independent Regulatory Commission.
A detailed 115-page report concluded that Suarez's evidence was "unreliable" and "inconsistent", revealing that he had called Evra a "negro" no fewer than seven times in a heated exchange.
Liverpool continued to defend Suarez in a lengthy statement on its official website, claiming the FA had constructed a "highly subjective" case against him, which was "ultimately unsubstantiated."
Suarez, who joined Liverpool from Dutch side Ajax last season, also protested his innocence in a statement.
"Never, I repeat, never, have I had any racial problem with a team mate or individual who was of a different race or color to mine. Never," it read.
He added: "In my country, 'negro' is a word we use commonly, a word which doesn't show any lack of respect and is even less so a form of racist abuse. Based on this, everything which has been said so far is totally false."
Suarez's ban will begin immediately, meaning he will miss Tuesday night's clash against EPL leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
"I do feel sorry for the fans and for my team mates whom I will not be able to help during the next month. It will be a very difficult time for me," he said.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and his players wore Suarez t-shirts in the warm-up before their match
against Wigan last month, but ultimately the club decided not to prolong the affair.
"It is time to put the Luis Suarez matter to rest and for all of us, going forward, to work together to stamp out racism in every form both inside and outside the sport," the statement said.
His absence from the Liverpool line-up will be keenly felt during a critical period as they chase a Champions League place.
Suarez will also miss their League Cup semifinal tie against Manchester City as Dalglish bids to win his first silverware since taking charge last season.
