Rodgers slams ´vilification´ of Suarez

Brendan Rodgers has branded the treatment of Luis Suarez ‘wrong and unfair’ after the forward again came under scrutiny for simulation.

The Uruguay international has been heavily disparaged for his on-field antics, with replays appearing to show that he dived to try to earn his team a penalty during their goalless draw against Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis called for a three-game ban for any guilty player, however Rodgers believes that the 25-year-old is being treated differently to other players and is often needlessly criticised, alluding to the challenge made by Stoke defender Robert Huth in which the German appeared to stamp on the striker’s chest.

“As manager of this football club I find it incredible that in nearly all the coverage about Luis Suarez this weekend, very little focus has been placed on the fact that he was actually the victim of a stamping incident within the first five minutes of the game,” Rodgers told the club’s official website.

“At this moment there seems to be one set of rules for Luis and another set for everyone else.

“Diving and simulation is obviously a wider issue in football and one that we all agree has to be eradicated from our game but there were other incidents this weekend that didn’t seem to generate the same coverage.

“No-one should be distracted by the real issue here, both at Anfield and at another game played on Sunday, when Luis and another player were hurt in off-the-ball incidents that went unpunished but were caught on TV cameras.

“I believe some people need to develop a sense of perspective and I also believe in this moment the vilification of Luis is both wrong and unfair.

“I will continue to protect the values, spirit and people of this great club and game while searching for a consistent level of results in order to make progress on the field.”