Liverpool FC continued its support of embattled star Luis Suarez by wearing T-shirts bearing his likeness during pregame warm-ups. Suarez is facing an eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra during LFC's Oct.5 game against Manchester United.
Each player in the game-day squad as well as LFC coaches and staff were wearing the Suarez shirts. Their appearance was met by roars of approval from the sizable contingent of travelling Liverpool supporters at Wigan's DW Stadium.
The white T-shirts had a red image of a celebrating Suarez emblazoned on the front. The image came from a photo of his goal celebration when he scored the winner against Queens Park Rangers (QPR) on Dec. 10.
Earlier Wednesday, Suarez's Liverpool teammates issued a joint statement supporting the Uruguayan forward.
"Luis Suarez is our teammate and our friend and as a group of players we are shocked and angered that he has been found guilty by the FA," it read.
"We totally support Luis and we want the world to know that. We know he is not racist."
LFC and Suarez have 14 days from Tuesday to lodge an appeal. The punishment handed down by England's FA (the governing body of English soccer) does not take effect until the appeals process has played itself out.
Wigan held Liverpool to a scoreless draw in Wednesday's game.
Review all the action from Wednesday's game in our Liverpool Live Blog.
Photo via Liverpool FC.tv
