Luis Suarez: No Liverpool Appeal on Racism Ban, Return for Manchester United?

Liverpool Football Club and star forward Luis Suarez have released statements regarding the decision not to appeal against the eight match suspension handed down to the player for allegedly racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

However, both the club and the player continue to strongly deny that there is any truth to the allegations.

As such, Suarez begins his eight-game absence with the Reds' trip to Manchester City, meaning that presuming the fixture list is fulfilled as it currently stands, the Uruguayan forward will return in early February—and his first game back will be against none other than Manchester United, the team he was facing when the allegations came about.

Liverpool will now be without Suarez for fixtures against City, Oldham in the FA Cup and the double-header semifinal of the League Cup against City again, as well as further league matches against Wolves, Stoke, Spurs and Bolton.

Should Liverpool progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup, Suarez's comeback fixture will instead be the Spurs match at Anfield.

Suarez was keen in his statement to point out his gratitude to the fans of the club and his teammates who had supported him through the time between the allegations and today, and maintained his innocence, although he accepted the suspension.

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I am very upset by all the things which have been said during the last few weeks about me, all of them being very far from the truth. But above all, I'm very upset at feeling so powerless whilst being accused of something which I did not, nor would not ever do.

I will carry out the suspension with the resignation of someone who hasn't done anything wrong and who feels extremely upset by the events. I do feel sorry for the fans and for my teammates whom I will not be able to help during the next month. It will be a very difficult time for me.

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Liverpool FC also made their feelings known that Suarez was innocent but stated that a line needed to be drawn under the episode to ensure that the issue of racism in general was not undermined nor tried to be ignored by such an institution.

With Suarez the top scorer for Liverpool this season with five league goals, it will be left to his attacking teammates such as Dirk Kuyt and Andy Carroll to pick up the scoring burden, as well as returning captain Steven Gerrard.

Stay tuned to my feed on Bleacher Report for all the latest reaction to the news of Suarez's ban and what it means for Liverpool FC.