I fully expect to get banned for this despite the fact this is a genuine attempt to engage you all rather than WUM.
"Negrito" does not neccesarily carry the same reputation as "negro" or the other n words in our culture as it does in South America. That is understandable. It can be used as an objective and descriptive word akin to saying "Patrice Evra is black" and would carry no offence. Similarly, it can be used as affectionately like how the n word is used between some members of the black community in urban culture in the US. Using the word "negrito" is not neccesarily a racist word, but it certainly is a reference to skin colour. And any reference to skin colour can be used to racially abuse someone regardless depending on what context it is used in.
In the context of two opposition players arguing midway through a derby match, to competely rule out any intended offence is naive. If I tell someone to shut up for instance, and then turn around and say "why, black?" I would think that they are trying to annoy me through a completely unneccessary mention of skin colour, even with a term that is not offensive. If repeated I would be certain that offence is meant. Have any of you here had an argument with someone of a different race and then for clarification pointed out the colour of their skin? Why would you unless you wanted to rile them?
This is what Suarez has been found guilty of:
* Mr Suarez used insulting words towards Mr Evra during the match contrary to FA Rule E3(1);
* The insulting words used by Mr Suarez included a reference to Mr Evra's colour within the meaning of Rule E3(2)
Using the colour of someone else's skin to provoke a rise out of someone is racial abuse. That is not to say that Suarez is a racist, who has a phobia of black people and is a card carrying member of the BNP. Racial abuse can be used to gain an advantage on the pitch rather than reflecting underlying views. However, it is still wholly unacceptable and should be punished if proven, as is the case.
If you have any criticisms of what I have said, highlight it clearly. Hopefully I won't be banned on posting of any sort of non-consensus view.
1. Everything I have read states quite clearly that in Uruguay "Negro" and "Negrito" have nothing to do with skin colour. They are neutral terms, leaning on the sides of friendliness if anything
2. From what I have read it sounds like Evra (Who is fluent in Spanish) began the conversation with a word which apparantly is a deadly racist insult to 'South Americans'
3. The conversation was conducted in Spanish and Suarez responded in Spanish with a word that in Uruguay is not racist nor does it apply to any particular skin colour
4. It appears that although Evra initiated the discussion in Spanish, he has (At a much later time - hours afterwards) complained about to a French TV Station (Canal+). He appears in that interview to be claiming the English version of the word rather than the Spanish version - which is odd in itself as I've read that Suarez can barely speak a word of English (Can anyone confirm this?)
5. It also transpires (From a few sources) that Evra told an official at the game "You only booked me because I'm black"
6. Evra's behaviour before even a ball was kicked was stroppy, angry and confrontational throughout. As he went off it was even more so to the Liverpool fans
7. He didn't report it to any match official at any time
8. No Liverpool players heard anything
9. No Manchester United players heard anything
10. There was no video evidence despite Evra saying "You can all see it"
Obviously we all have to wait for the whole transcript to come out, but if the above was the case then firstly there doesn't seem to be a case to answer for Suarez. Secondly why did Evra use a different language to interpret a Spanish phrase and thirdly why didn't the people investigating it even look into this?
We also have the extra evidence of Hernandez (For instance) openly using the word "Negrito" in a Twitter in a non-racial manner and then we have the entire Argentian team posing with a flag with the word "Negro" upon it - again in a non-racial manner.
There are too many ifs and buts, but from everything I've seen so far (To be backed up / confirmed / denied) I can see why the club is putting up such a robust defence.
The problem here though is that Suarez is openly being called "A racist" by all and sundry (Except by the FA who charged him and not by Evra who brought the whole thing up in the first place)
The fact there are so many loose ends and so much mixed up shite would make me at this moment in time think that the FA have done this to stick up two fingers at Blatter and his organisation and are also using this as a smoke screen to another case going on at present.
We will only know for sure once the full transcript appears of course.