Evra tricked Suarez, Johnson claims

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson said he believes Patrice Evra had no intentions of shaking Luis Suarez’s hand when the sides met last month.

Suarez – who was banned for eight games after being found guilty of racially abusing the United left-back in the reverse fixture at Anfield earlier this season – refused to shake Evra’s hand before the clash at Old Trafford.

Johnson did not see the initial incident but has since watched it back on television, and claimed Evra ‘probably stayed up all night’ thinking about how to shake hands with the Uruguayan.

“Evra was clever at Old Trafford,” Johnson told the Daily Mail.

“Because – I’m not being funny – but if I wanted to shake your hand I would stick it right out in front of me. But if my hand is down almost by my side, then it’s because I really don’t want to shake your hand.”

“Luis didn’t shake because Evra’s hand was down there. What else is Luis supposed to do? Would you go to shake someone’s hand if it is way down there by their side? Course not.”

“But then, because Luis didn’t do it, Evra has pulled him back by his arm as he walked on, as if to say to everybody: ‘Look, I wanted to shake his hand and he didn’t…'”

“He’s following Luis with his eyes as if to say: ‘Right, he’s gone, so I’ll pull him back now…’ Evra probably stayed up all night thinking about how to do that. The whole thing is ridiculous.”

Suarez was widely condemned for the incident and, along with the club, later apologised for his actions.