Luis Suarez to be available over Christmas as racism row drags on

LUIS SUAREZ is set to be available for all of Liverpool’s matches over the next month with the bitter row over his eight-match ban expected to drag on well into the new year.
The Reds don’t expect to receive the written judgement explaining why the Football Association’s independent commission found the striker guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra for ‘weeks rather than days’.
Only when Liverpool are in possession of those details will the 14 days begin in which they have the opportunity to lodge an appeal.
Any punishment is suspended until the end of the appeal process so Suarez’s fate might not be known for months.

Given Liverpool’s fury at the verdict, an appeal is almost certain and that would lead to the FA forming another three-man panel. They are unlikely to meet until February at the earliest.