Football is reeling from yet another race row as a Parliamentary inquiry into the subject was announced.
At the same time Roberto Mancini told Liverpool they should have apologised as soon as Luis Suarez was found guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra.
Non-League Nuneaton, of the Blue Square Bet North, suspended two players and terminated the contract of a third after the Birmingham County FA charged the trio with making racist comments to opposing players during a Youth Cup tie in September.
And the fall-out from the Suarez affair continued with the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee deciding to investigate racism in sport.
Senior Liverpool figures, possibly including manager Kenny Dalglish, will be summoned to give evidence on March 6, and Suarez and Evra could also be asked to appear.
Nuneaton promised that they would terminate the contracts of George Washbourne and Lewis Edwards if they are found guilty of making racist comments to opponents from Chasetown.
Striker Conor Baker, 18, has already had his contract torn up
Liverpool play at Manchester City in their Carling Cup semi-final first leg but Suarez, who is serving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra, continued to be the talking point.
City manager Mancini criticised Liverpool’s approach to the Suarez affair, saying: ‘Sometimes it can happen on the pitch, a situation like this, but it is important to apologise for what you did.
‘Sometimes on the pitch you can do something you don’t want to do, because you are nervous and you don’t think.
‘I don’t think Suarez is a racist. I think he made a mistake. It is important to say, “I am sorry, I made a mistake, I apologise for this”, and accept the charge.’
Suarez has now apologised for what he said, although the Uruguayan has not said sorry to Manchester United defender Evra by name. Liverpool have decided not to appeal the player’s ban.
Asked if it was a mistake for Liverpool players to wear T-shirts in support of Suarez when they warmed up before the goalless draw at Wigan on December 21, Mancini said: ‘Maybe, yes.’
Without Suarez, Dalglish is expected to select Andy Carroll and former City player Craig Bellamy up front tonight.
Mancini has some sympathy with Suarez, revealing he was on the receiving end of verbal abuse — and gave it out — during a 20-year playing career in Italy.
He added: ‘I didn’t cry about this because I have my opinion that on the pitch everything can happen because you don’t think, you are tired, you are stupid, you are young, for many reasons. I said some things but not racist words.’f the last two weeks have reignited concerns about racism in the game.
