Manchester United has thanked Liverpool FC after striker Luis Suarez and manager Kenny Dalglish apologised over the bitter row surrounding a handshake snub to defender Patrice Evra at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Suarez, who was banned for eight matches after racially abusing Evra during the league game between the sides at Anfield in October, had been expected to shake hands with the Frenchman but failed to do so, causing an angry reaction from Evra.
But the Uruguayan player has today said sorry for his actions.
He said: "I have spoken with the manager (Kenny Dalglish) since the game at Old Trafford and I realise I got things wrong," he said in a statement on the Liverpool official website.
"I've not only let him down, but also the club and what it stands for and I'm sorry. I made a mistake and I regret what happened.
"I should have shaken Patrice Evra's hand before the game and I want to apologise for my actions.
"I would like to put this whole issue behind me and concentrate on playing football."
Liverpool Manager Kenny Dalglish also apologised for comments he made in a post-match interview on Sky Sports.
"Ian Ayre (Liverpool's managing director) has made the Club's position absolutely clear and it is right that Luis Suarez has now apologised for what happened at Old Trafford," said Dalglish.
"To be honest, I was shocked to hear that the player had not shaken hands having been told earlier in the week that he would do.
"But as Ian said earlier, all of us have a responsibility to represent this Club in a fit and proper manner and that applies equally to me as Liverpool Manager.
"When I went on TV after yesterday's game I hadn't seen what had happened, but I did not conduct myself in a way befitting of a Liverpool Manager during that interview and I'd like to apologise for that."
A statement by Manchester United welcomed the apologies.
The club said: "Manchester United thanks Liverpool for the apologies issued following Saturday's game. Everyone at Old Trafford wants to move on from this. The history of our two great clubs is one of success and rivalry unparalleled in British football. That should be the focus in the future of all those who love the clubs."
Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre said Suarez had misled the club by indicating that he was going to shake Evra's hand.
Mr Ayre told www.liverpoolfc.tv: "We are extremely disappointed Luis Suarez did not shake hands with Patrice Evra before yesterday's game. The player had told us beforehand that he would, but then chose not to do so.
"He was wrong to mislead us and wrong not to offer his hand to Patrice Evra. He has not only let himself down, but also Kenny Dalglish, his team-mates and the club.
"It has been made absolutely clear to Luis Suarez that his behaviour was not acceptable.
"Luis Suarez has now apologised for his actions which was the right thing to do. However, all of us have a duty to behave in a responsible manner and we hope that he now understands what is expected of anyone representing Liverpool Football Club."
Suarez scored in a 2-1 defeat for Liverpool, with Evra appearing to taunt the South American by celebrating right next to him at the end of the match. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson described Suarez as "a disgrace" and suggested he should never play for Liverpool again while Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor branded Suarez's conduct as "disrespectful, inappropriate and embarrassing". Taylor added: "If anything, Patrice Evra was the victim and he was prepared to put his hand out. "These players are expected to be role models but if we have a situation where nobody accepts the findings of hearings and just carries on regardless, all you get is anarchy. "Now the Football Association have to step in because the whole situation has gone too far. "Suarez had a chance to put everything to be yesterday, in front of a worldwide audience. The fact that he chose not to is, quite frankly, depressing." Having already defended his man in a flash TV interview, Dalglish opted not to make himself available for further discussion on the matter. Long-time friend Alan Hansen did not say on Match of the Day last night whether he had spoken to Dalglish prior to transmission. However, his own observation was withering in its condemnation. "Liverpool FC made a statement that there would be a handshake," he said. "Luis Suarez was party to the statement. He knew about it and obviously agreed with it. To snub Patrice Evra was, in my view, totally unacceptable. "The football club and the manager have given him total and unequivocal support through thick and thin. "He has let Kenny Dalglish down, the club down and himself down."
Earlier Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt accused Suarez of "unsporting behaviour" by failing to shake Evra's hand - and confirmed plans for a Downing Street summit on racism in football. Mr Hunt said the fracas between the two footballers at Old Trafford yesterday was "incredibly depressing". He added: "It was very unsporting behaviour and I am sure the FA will look in to see if any rules were broken. "I thought the referee handled it brilliantly. It was an incredibly tense and difficult situation and Phil Dowd did a fantastic job." Supporting proposals by David Cameron to hold a 'round table discussion' with football authorities and players' representatives on the subject of racism, he added: "This is the kind of thing that can so easily escalate and that is why the Prime Minister has decided he is going to take a real interest and have this meeting in Downing Street." There had been "huge strides" in tackling the problem in recent years, Mr Hunt said, but recent events had shown the footballing authorities and Government could not be complacent. The event, scheduled for later this month, comes amid growing fears that high-profile incidents are harming the image of the game in England. At a charity reception last month, Mr Cameron said many people had been "concerned by recent events" in the sport. "My message is clear: we will not tolerate racism in Britain. It has absolutely no place in our society and where it exists, we will kick it out," he said. "Our football governing bodies, clubs and footballers themselves have a vital role to play as role models in this respect." A source at the Premier League told the Sunday Telegraph the talks at Number 10 were expected to be "constructive and positive". Mr Hunt said The FA was right to strip John Terry of the England captaincy. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Hunt said: "It's a decision for the FA but I did support them when they made that decision because I think sometimes the principle is important than any one person. "I think it is incredibly important for the future of the game that the FA deal decisively and clearly with these issues as they did with Suarez and I absolutely supported them. "But John Terry is innocent until proven guilty and we must wait and see what the courts decide."
Rio Ferdinand has also spoken out over the handshake snub, telling MUTV: "I thought it was bad decision-making from their guy."
He added: "It's a touchy subject at the minute and things could have been put to bed a little bit easier if the handshake had been done. "After seeing what I saw I decided not to shake his hand. "He's not got the respect that he needs to have in these situations and acknowledge he's made a mistake and say sorry and move on from that. "I lost all respect for the guy after that."
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Too little to late! Should never play again.
The whole matter has been a PR disaster for Liverpool FC and Suarez should have been made to issue a conciliatory statement as soon as the Independent Tribunal ruled. Even if Suarez and Liverpool felt hard done by with the decision, nothing could then have been gained by prolonging the episode and, since then, the club and player have shown no remorse whatsoever. His statement yesterday only apologises for failing to shake Evra's hand and, so, even now, it has not put right the damage done. It is, however, a start.
A step in the right direction, though it would be nice to know whether he is apologising to Evra or LFC/ Dalglish. This isn't explicitly stated.
If someone offered a handsake to me, and I didn't want to shake theirs, I wouldn't offer my hand in return, end of story.
I'm not a Liverpool or Man Utd supporter, but what is the point in doing to something false (by shaking the hand of someone you dislike) surely you should do what your brain is telling you, don't shake this guys hand because I dislike him and he got me banned for a few games.
Stuff sportman ship, if there was true sportsman ship every match would end up nil - nil
I think Dalglish should be apologising as well. The whole club has been a disgrace.
So no apology for Patrice ?
Absolutely disgraceful.
I'm sure that had it been a United player that had been found guilty of racially abusing a fellow professional, Fergie would have shown him the door.
Do the right thing Liverpool and sack Suarez, there's no place for him in English football.
the prem doesnt need induviduals like Suarez,tevez,balotelli and co,bad for the game,
Too little too late. Just trying to avoid another ban after the PFA itself asked the FA to take actions over the handshake incident. Dalglish should bear a lot of responsibility over the Suarez handshake defiance because all throughout the episode he has not even once encouraged Suarez to move on. Instead he's been claiming shamelessly that the ban was unjustified! I would not be surprised if the Liverpool directors as well are doing a damage control exercise by condemning Suarez because the world press has condemned Suarez unanimously and it is clear that their image has taken a severe blow. Hence their dissociation from Suarez stupid action. By the way, I have not heard anything from Mr Guus Poyet who defended Suarez blindly and shamelessly at the very beginning of the episode.
Football used to be a sport played by gentlemen. Now many are just extremely overpaid spoilt brats.
Dalglish as a manager has shown the Liverpool team up, also anything 2 do with Suarez he clames he didnt see this. Liverpool club used to have class but not anymore.
Liverpool should be fined or loose 3 points for the way thet have handled this.
Anything about Ferdinand refusing to shake hands ?.
After the horse has bolted !!!!
"Suarez had a chance to put everything to "be" yesterday, in front of a worldwide audience."
Bed??????
Dalglish should go into comedy.
By the way , his team is 4 points ahead of Norwich. Ha ha ha ha.
was reading comments from the liverpool echo yesterday and the vile comments left by there so called supporters was disgusting anyway lets move on and not back in the seventies wen liverpool was last a good team.
Both clubs trying desperately to escape an FA charge. Awful Both should be docked points. It was an appalling afternoon for English football.
could the livlerpool statement have something to do with article and comments made in todays new york times about the owners and their connection with baseball in america and in particular the BOSTON area and the fallout from the suarez racism haveing an imPact on their good standing,i.e PROFITS?
Yes Suarez was wrong, but also Evra was wrong for acting like he had won the world cup at the end of the match which was quite embarrassing, but why was Ferdinand jumping on the bandwagon. enough said apologies have been given by some, and apologies have been accepted, so lets move on and watch some football , which isn't that really what football matches is all about the game
The hand shake is an irrelevance as I see it.....Liverpool should have accepted the verdict in a professional manner at the time - but their manager and players alike continued to act uncontrollably without conscience of their actions. Dalglish is to blame and Suarez is indeed a disgrace - history will not be changed.
Unfortunately having talent in your chosen field doesn't mean that you can also have grace and class, in my view that comes from where young people start their lives, education.Because of the ruthless nature of football in particular, where for example players practise simulation in order to gain advantage on the field of play, how can they possibly comprehend adopting the so call 'role model' term which is often bounced about after incidents like yesterday.The laughing at the 'mimicking' of the youngster at Villa Park today by the sky panel only reinforces this fact........football has NOT changed for the better.It has not changed at all.As long as Mr Blatter can have a 'black friend' then im afraid it will remain broken.Rant over.
If there is a more disagreeable and unlikeable player in England, I've yet to see him.
I have yet to see a report highlighting the fact that black armbands were worn yesterday in memory of Players and ex players from Utd and City who died in Munich.
The Liverpool player and manager showed a complete lack of respect to their memory, on a day when our thoughts should have been focussed on them and their families.
True gentlemen and heroes deserve better !
An alternative view....Evra was within his rights to complain about the original incident. Suarez claimed in his defence on the original claim that he didn't intend or believe his remarks to be racist, in the context of his cultural background. This gave Evra the opportunity, as Sepp Blatter would have it, to put him straight, in the context of playing in England, shake hands and everyone move on. But, Evra insists, as he is entitled to do, on pursuing his case. The FA then deem that despite Suarez's claims of meaning no offence, that offence was intended and Suarez ends up with an 8 match ban. So, if a handshake isn't good enough for Evra when it could all have been sorted out, why should he be entitled to a handshake later? From Suarez's viewpoint, why shake hands with the man who does not value your handshake - the whole thing was set up to humiliate Suarez before the match, and so why should we be surprised that he chose not to?
Unfortunately for Liverpool and for Suarez, the overreaction in the media and by the likes of Ferdinand means that the referee was intimidated into giving the benefit of the doubt to United on many occasions in the match, not least the foul on Suarez by Ferdinand when he was through.
This is an apology which is more to do with shirt sales in Asia and Africa than any genuine regret at racial abuse. Aren't there laws in this country against racial abuse and wouldn't Police time be better spent prosecuting Suarez than clearing the Old Trafford forecourts of fanzines which parody racism.
Kenny was over the top with the Sky interviewer after the match. Suarez a bit late and looks like he had told LFC that he would shake hands with Evra.
Obviously they have both been hauled over the coals by the board, who will be more concerned on losing sponsors and Sky TV than a handshake.