Liverpool striker Luis Suarez believes the eight-game ban he received last season was down to Manchester United's "political power".
The 25-year-old Uruguay forward was handed the suspension and a £40,000 fine in December after being found guilty of racially abusing United defender Patrice Evra in a Barclays Premier League match.
Speaking on Uruguayan television show 'RR.Gol', Suarez said: "They were very tough days to me. I am not used to showing what I really feel, but the trial week was very difficult. I also cried alongside my wife.
"People at Liverpool are sure that it was a way that Manchester United used to put me out of the team and stop Liverpool. In England, Manchester United's political power is strong and you must respect that and shut your mouth."
The controversy was re-ignited in February, when Suarez seemingly refused Evra's handshake as the teams conducted their traditional pre-match greeting.
Suarez claims his actions were misunderstood.
He said: "In England, it was shown the moment when I passed in front of him, but they didn't see that he had his hand low before.
"Only the media in Uruguay and Spain showed that I wanted to shake his hand.
"Previously, I had promised my wife, the manager and the directors that I was going to shake hands with Evra. There was a chance for the teams not to shake hands like in a game between QPR and Chelsea [following the Anton Ferdinand-John Terry racism row], but I told them I was to shake hands with him.
"'Why not?', I thought, because I had no problems with him. I had been punished because of him, but I had no problems with shaking hands."
Speaking at length about the subject for the first time, Suarez reflected on a difficult period in his career.
"The trial [disciplinary hearing] was so complicated for me," he said. "I had to go to Manchester in a taxi for the trial. I got up at seven in the morning and I came home at nine at night.
"I was exhausted, I was so tired. I wanted to cry, and kick all the things around me.
"I came home and I wanted to do all that, but I couldn't because my daughter was at home. There were really complicated days, and then things became harder after the punishment."
what do you think?
jeni sperber
Silly man, he is not helping himself, let it go, it's history, let your football do the talking
Mathew Turner
Agree u can clearly see evra drop his hand down.. It dosent matter now people know wot evra is like ferdinand is no better and fergie has always been a whinger
Jagdip Singh Dani
its the first time he openly commented on the subject. he allowed to have his say. Evra clearly dropped his hand but media in England as we already know are corrupt as sin. United fans don't talk about letting it drop when Rio is tweeting his garbage 24/7
Adrian Allan
The venue for the hearing (Manchester) says it all. Luis is only confirming what's already known for years in the premier league. Imagine if it was Rio Ferdinand and JT that is Man united and Chelsea. Would Fergie go all the way in getting JT banned? Mmmmm
Dorrien Phillips
He has spoken about the whole affair correctly, not once did he say in the interview he thought it was wrong, He states he took his punishment and is happy to let it go, It it the British press who have reopened this whole situation.
rocco hunter
Once Fergie retires hope the stop favoring Manu...
ben horsted
Clearly you all don't support man u... but if you watch the hand shake on YouTube you see it was him that dropped his hand! Not evra.. i don't support utd or Liverpool but clearly you need watch it before you give your opinions !!
Craig Finbow
I watched it and I think evra started with his hand very low and at the past second brought it up. Both are to blame really. What I cant understand is why if he was found guilty it didn't go to court....
Dorrien Phillips
Evra didnt offer his hand to Suarez, and Suarez didnt make too much of an effort to rectify that. Grown men would have made a point of trying to put it behind them, alas, footballers nowadays are far from grown men. If either of them really wanted to prove it was over, then they would have made damned sure it would have happened.
Rob Shaw
Think you need to take another look at it Ben, Evra started it
Robert Robinson
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
shirley sutton
Cant they let it drop he did his punishment and paid his fine and he's entitled to his opinion he's said nothing personally about evra so why all the fuss? Maybe on other countries tb they did get a different angle on the handshake
Kieran James Lyons
7:15am on 18/7/2012
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.