I've lost respect for Suarez - Rio
Rio Ferdinand (left) and Luis Suarez
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has claimed to have lost all respect for Liverpool's Luis Suarez.
Ferdinand refused to shake Suarez's hand prior to United's 2-1 Premier League win at Old Trafford. He took the decision as a direct consequence of Suarez opting not to shake Patrice Evra's hand as the players conducted their traditional pre-match greeting.
"I thought it was bad decision-making from their guy," Ferdinand told MUTV. "After seeing what I saw I decided not to shake his hand. I lost all respect for the guy after that."
It was Suarez's first start since serving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra at Anfield in October.
The incident came a fortnight after the Football Association scrapped the handshake prior to Chelsea's FA Cup fourth round tie at QPR and an equally tricky reunion between Rio's brother, Anton Ferdinand, and John Terry, who has been accused of racially abusing the defender, also in October.
Ferdinand 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.
"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."
Sir Alex Ferguson has branded Suarez "a disgrace" and called for Liverpool to sack the South American. However, that is not going to happen and Ferdinand accepts when the two clubs meet next season, there will be even more scrutiny on them.
"It could have been resolved, maybe, between the two people who are involved," he said. "After this, it's not great. It's disappointing. I expected more from the other guy but it wasn't to be."
Meanwhile, thousands of copies of independent United fanzine Red Issue were seized by police outside the ground after they were found to contain a "racially offensive image". The fanzine included a spoof poster of a Ku Klux Klan hood along with the words "LFC" and "Suarez is Innocent".
Press Association
