Suarez charged over Evra clash

Luis Suarez has been charged by the Football Association with racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

The FA announced the charge following a month-long investigation into the claims against Liverpool's Uruguayan striker.

An FA statement said: "The FA has today charged Liverpool's Luis Suarez following an incident that occurred during the Liverpool versus Manchester United fixture at Anfield on 15 October 2011."

It continued: "It is alleged that Suarez used abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Manchester United's Patrice Evra contrary to FA rules. It is further alleged that this included a reference to the ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race of Patrice Evra."

Liverpool said Suarez will plead not guilty to the charge.

A club statement said: "The club this afternoon received notification from the Football Association of their decision to charge Luis Suarez and will take time to properly review the documentation which has been sent to us.

"We will discuss the matter fully with him when he returns from international duty, but he will plead not guilty to the charge and we expect him to request a personal hearing. Luis remains determined to clear his name of the allegation made against him by Patrice Evra. The club remain fully supportive of Luis in this matter."

Evra made his claims immediately after the October 15 match and was quoted as telling French TV station Canal Plus: "There are cameras, you can see him [Suarez] say a certain word to me at least 10 times."

Both players spoke to FA officials during the investigation and there have been suggestions that Suarez was unaware that what was acceptable in Uruguay was viewed as racist in Europe.

Suarez told Uruguayan media earlier this month: "There is no evidence I said anything racist to him. I said nothing of the sort. There were two parts of the discussion, one in Spanish, one in English. I did not insult him. It was just a way of expressing myself."