Jamie Carragher has personally apologised to Patrice Evra and said Liverpool made a ‘massive mistake’ by backing Luis Suarez in the 2011 racism row between the two players.
Suarez was banned for eight matches by the Football Association for using insulting and abusing language towards Evra, including a racist remark about the colour of the Frenchman’s skin, during Manchester United’s visit to Anfield in October 2011.
The Reds teams and manager Kenny Dalglish all responded to the suspension by wearing t-shirts in support of their team-mate ahead of their Premier League match against Wigan in December 2011.
Carragher was one of the players who wore the shirt, which had an image of Suarez on the front and his name and number on the back, with a version also being sold to fans and regularly seen in the terraces at the time.
And the former Liverpool skipper, who appeared alongside Evra on Sky Sports on Monday night, has accepted the club made a huge error of judgement.
“Apologies, we got it massively wrong,” said Carragher.
“There’s no doubt we made a massive mistake.
“I’m not lying on that and saying I wasn’t part of it, because as the club we got it wrong and I was vice-captain.
“I’m not sure who was actually behind it.
“What I would say is that maybe I, as an individual, lacked the courage to say I wasn’t wearing it.
“I don’t think everyone at Liverpool thought what we were doing was right.
“Your first reaction – no matter what someone does – is to support them even if they are wrong.”
Speaking about Liverpool’s decision to wear t-shirts supporting Suarez, Evra said: “I saw it. I was watching the game. I was like, this is ridiculous. It is unbelievable.
“I understand you always have to support your player because this is your team. But this was after the ban.
“What message do you send to the world? Supporting someone being banned because he used some racist words?”
The spat between the players grew even more later that season when Suarez bizarrely refused to shake Evra’s hand ahead of their clash at Old Trafford, however, the players did see eye-to-eye again in the following season.
Suarez and Evra left Liverpool and Manchester United respectively in the summer of 2014.
