Glen Johnson has leapt to the defence of former Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez when asked about the allegations of racism by the Uruguayan towards ex-Manchester United man Patrice Evra during the 2011/12 season.
Evra and Manchester United reported the matter after the Premier League match at Anfield in October 2011, with Suarez allegedly calling the left-back a ‘negro’ seven times in two minutes.
After an investigation by the Football Association, Suarez was handed an eight-game ban and fined £40,000 in December 2011, much to the disappointment of Liverpool.
Suarez started the return fixture against United at Old Trafford in February 2012 where he seemingly refused to shake the hand of Evra before the match started.
Johnson actually accused Evra of concocting a plan to make it look like Suarez was refusing to shake the Frenchman’s hand shortly after the game.
And speaking to talkSPORT’s Jim White, Johnson took the opportunity to defend Suarez again, insisting he would back Evra if he believed Suarez was being racist.
Johnson said: “It’s a simple fact, I don’t think Luis is racist.
“They [Evra and Suarez] had an altercation and I’ll be the first person to back anyone against racism.
“If Luis was racist then I would be backing Evra but I don’t think Luis was racist. He’s one of the nicest guys, who I got on with at Liverpool.
“There is just no way he’s racist. I’ve seen him on personal levels, been at his kids’ birthday parties and he’s been to my kids’ birthday parties. There’s no way we’d have a relationship like that if he was racist.
“I do not believe he’s racist and that’s why I sat by Luis.”