Luis Suarez fans the flames of rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United with comments that could provoke further punishment

The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United has always been a tempestuous one and Luis Suarez’s comments that “United’s political power is strong and you must respect that and shut your mouth” will only increase the bad feeling between the two sets of fans, who are both still smarting from the prolonged racial incident that has marred the two club’s recent relationship.

Speaking to Uruguayan television show RR.Gol the 25-year-old was discussing the difficult year he’s had, after being handed an eight game suspension and a £40,000 fine in December following his racially motivated spat with Patrice Evra.

However, Suarez’s refusal to lay the incident to rest and his insistence on escalating the rivalry between the clubs with his bold accusation could yet land him in yet more hot eater with the Football Association.

“People at Liverpool are sure that it was a way that Manchester United used to put me out of the team and stop Liverpool” he said. “In England, Manchester United’s political power is strong and you must respect that and shut your mouth.”

Whereas in previous years the rivalry between England’s two most successful clubs was based on the action on the pitch, his suggestive comment now provides fans with another unnecessary angle with which to attack each other.

The suggestion that United are treated more favourably by football authorities, is one that has been muted by fans of fans before, with the 2010 World Cup final referee Howard Webb provoking the combined ire of supporters nationwide.

However, for a player of Suarez’s reputation and standing within Liverpool to insist that this conspiracy is true will ensure an even more visceral atmosphere when the two sides clash - both on and off the field of play - at Anfield on September 23rd in their first league meeting of the season.

Also, his suggestion of bias towards United will undoubtedly be punished by the FA for bringing the game into disrepute, by suggesting that Alex Ferguson’s team exert an undue control on the politics of the game.

Such an allegation of corruption is an audacious and bold claim to make, especially considering that United have been far from free of punishment for their indiscretions.

Most notably Wayne Rooney was banned for two matches after swearing into a television camera in celebration of his hat-trick against West Ham in April 2011 at Upton Park, and similarly Alex Ferguson was hit with a five game touchline ban and a £30,000 fine for criticising referee Martin Atkinson following his side’s match against Chelsea in March 2011.

And the reaction to Suarez’s comments from United fans could well be swift, as the striker has been included in Uruguay’s 18 man squad for the Olympic Games, with his country playing United Arab Emirates on July 26th at Old Trafford.

Whatever the outcome of the interview is though and irrelevant of personal views and feelings towards the whole saga, when the two sides meet it will be an epic encounter that will be keenly contested on the pitch and voiced just as fiercely in the stands.

- For those who speak Spanish, here is the interview in full.

Tags: Liverpool, Luis Suarez, Manchester United, Premier League

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