5 footballers who were banned for racism

#3: Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez infamously clashed with Patrice Evra in 2011

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez was no stranger to controversy when he arrived at Liverpool, as he’d been involved in an unsavory incident while playing for Ajax that saw him bite an opposing player. But that wasn’t quite as bad as the incident in 2011/12 that saw him banned for using a racist insult towards Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

During a game between the rivals in October 2011, Suarez was accused of using the insulting term “negro” to refer to Evra on multiple occasions, and although he denied the claims, the FA still saw it fit to charge him with using abusive and insulting words, including a reference to the race of Evra.

Liverpool stood behind Suarez and for his part, the player claimed no racism was involved, as he stated that the term doesn’t mean the same in Spanish as it does in English and is seen as more of a friendly, colloquial term towards anyone with dark skin or even dark hair.

Unfortunately for Suarez the FA didn’t buy the excuse and handed Suarez a lengthy eight-match ban as well as a fine of £40,000. It wouldn’t be the first long suspension Suarez would face, but despite his biting controversies, it remains perhaps his lowest moment.