Jordan Henderson admits he has huge regrets over Liverpool’s defence of Luis Suarez back in 2011, following racist abuse of Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.
The Uruguayan found himself at the centre of a storm after Evra accused him of racism during a Premier League clash at Anfield almost a decade ago.
Rather than condone Suarez’s behaviour, however, Liverpool instead decided to back him, wearing t-shirts before a game, while manager at the time Sir Kenny Dalglish stuck up for him in an interview.
It is something that received plenty of criticism at the time, with a young Henderson part of the Reds squad.
Speaking on Anton Ferdinand’s new BBC documentary Football, Racism and Me [via Empire of the Kop], the Liverpool skipper spoke candidly about his feelings regarding what happened:
You learn a lot from experiences. I was a young player at the time so it was something I’d never really experienced before,’ he said.
Looking back on it now, I am not sure the club or everybody deal with it in the best way.
From a player point of view, our mindset was on Luis and how to protect him, but really we didn’t really think about Patrice.
I think that’s where we got it wrong from top to bottom. If people want to point me out then I’ll take full responsibility as well as a player.
People will say, ‘That’s a bit late’, but I suppose it’s better late than never.
Read Liverpool Verdict
It is easy to get lost in club bias at times, but there is no denying that Liverpool dealt with the Suarez situation badly.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but defending the striker was always asking for trouble, and it has looked worse with each passing year.
Suarez was rightly handed an eight-match ban and his reputation in English football will always be tarnished somewhat.
It is nice to hear Henderson be so honest, highlighting why he is such a great person to have captaining Liverpool currently.
