Liverpool Football Club Managing Director Ian Ayre says Luis Suarez’s future at the club has not been compromised, despite his behaviour in the 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Sunday.
Suarez appeared to bite visting defender Branislav Ivanovic during the second half, with TV cameras capturing the incident.
The Uruguayan international has since apologised to Ivanovic, the club and supports for his conduct, which happned shortly before we went on to score a 97th minute equaliser in front of the Kop.
Some had suggested Liverpool would look to sell Suarez in the summer after a string of controversial incidents.
But Ayre has dismissed all suggestion of an exit for the 26-year-old.
When asked whether the incident would effect Suarez’s stasy on Merseyside, he told the club’s official website, “Not at all. It affects his future in the sense that we have to work with him on his discipline – but Luis is a very important player to the club.
“He’s a very popular player with his teammates. As we keep saying, he signed a new four-year contract last summer and we’d all love to see him here throughout that contract. He’s a fantastic player, top scorer and everything we’d want in a striker, so there’s no change there.
“This is more about getting him back on the right track and it’s largely down to Brendan now to work with him on that side of his character.”
Ayre also confirmed that the club have fined Suarez for his behaviour, with the money going to the Hillsborough Family Support Group charity.
He added, “We’ve taken action to fine Luis for his actions. Brendan has spoken to him and I’ve spoken to him, and Brendan will be working with him further on his discipline. You can see when you speak to him how sorry he is about it and he’s certainly shown quite a lot of contrition to us – and as part of that, he’s also asked we donate the fine to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.”
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