Suarez snubs Evra handshake

Luis Suarez snubbed Patrice Evra's handshake before Manchester United's Premier League clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils captain offered his hand to the Uruguay international, who was banned for eight matches for racially abusing the defender, but he bypassed the Frenchman and went straight to goalkeeper David de Gea.

Evra did not accept that and attempted to grab Suarez's arm to complete the formalities, but the striker shrugged him off.

Rio Ferdinand, next in line to De Gea, then refused to shake Suarez's hand.

Evra, as captain, had led out the side, and as Suarez, making his first start since returning from his ban, emerged from the tunnel next to last in Liverpool's line-up he was immediately booed.

But the Uruguayan's reaction to Evra was at odds with what manager Kenny Dalglish, who earlier in the week had said it was time to draw a line under the matter, had suggested would happen.

Dalglish had told liverpoolfc.tv: "People are already speculating on the pre-match ceremony, but from Luis's point of view we have spoken to him and I know he will shake the hand of Patrice Evra and the other Manchester United players before the game."

The Premier League had deemed there was no reason to cancel the handshakes, as they had done between QPR and Chelsea last month in an effort to ease tensions due to John Terry's charge of racially abusing Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, an allegation the Chelsea captain denies.

However, as a result it created another flashpoint - all of Suarez's making.

Dalglish said he had made his team selection based on "football reasons".

"We have come here to play a football match," he told Sky Sports prior to kick-off.

"We have picked our team purely on football reasons and that alone.

"We had a great game at Anfield a few weeks ago (in Liverpool's FA Cup win) and the wee man wasn't eligible but he is eligible now.

"Mentality has never been a problem for Luis Suarez. He is a football player who wants to play football and we want him to play."

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson stressed he had not spoken to Evra about facing Suarez - or indeed the initial incident back in October.

"There is no issue regarding Patrice. He did what was right; he made a complaint regarding racial abuse and that is the matter," he said.

"Since then we have never discussed it, we've just got on with our job.

"I think the nature of the build-up to these games has not been right and that has come from Liverpool.

"But if you get a good game that transcends everything. We want to see good football. Both clubs have great histories and a good game would do the world of good."

Ferguson extended his thoughts on the way Evra had been treated over the last four months in the match programme.

"My biggest regret is the way that Patrice has been castigated in some quarters for standing up to racism," he told United Review.

"He can't have enjoyed the booing he endured at Anfield the other week, but he kept his dignity and his concentration on football.

"Patrice has, in fact, displayed exactly the kind of strength of character that I have been talking about.

"He has got through it because he wanted to get through it and hopefully now we can all get on with the game."

Sky Sports News reported there were clashes in the tunnel between players from both sides at half-time with police and stewards involved.

Evra's Manchester United team-mate Darren Fletcher praised the Frenchman for being "the bigger man" over the handshakes.

"I think what went on before the game has added that extra bit of spice to it, not that it needed it," the Scot said on Sky Sports News.

"Credit to Patrice Evra, I think he's come out, he's the bigger man. He's gone to shake his hand and obviously Suarez has rejected it."

Former United full-back Gary Neville added: "Obviously it's quite clear that Luis Suarez has completely blanked Patrice Evra.

"I'm not sure it's the wisest thing for him to do, I'm not sure he's helped his football club, I think that (Liverpool manager) Kenny Dalglish is now put in a position after the game where he's going to have to defend him again."

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp said of the incident: "I don't know why they had the handshakes, this was always going to happen today. They should have just taken it out of the equation."

Wayne Rooney, who scored twice to lead Manchester United, was unwilling to get involved in the handshakes row.

When asked about it he told Sky Sports News: "We are all professionals, we have to go and do our jobs on the pitch. We have to concentrate on that.

"I think that's between the two individuals, it's not for us to get involved in."