( CNN ) -- Liverpool striker Luis Suarez `` needs education '' after continuing to protest his innocence despite being punished for racial abuse , according to a former English player . Suarez was banned for eight games and fined $ 63,000 on Tuesday , pending an appeal , for comments made to Manchester United 's Patrice Evra during a match in October . His club issued a lengthy statement on his behalf after the ruling , as did his teammates before Wednesday 's match against Wigan , and his lawyer held a press conference in Uruguay . Manager Kenny Dalglish backed the 24-year-old on Twitter , and also wore a t-shirt depicting the Uruguay international as he continued the defense in his pre-game interview . `` Clubs will defend their players , they are their assets -- they will defend their players to the hilt , '' said Paul Mortimer , a former England under-21 international who played for Charlton and Aston Villa but now works with the Show Racism The Red Card campaign . Footballers are TV stars , and should act like it . `` The most important thing now , after the punishment , is education . He has highlighted when talking about the cultural differences that he needs some education , he needs to be able to understand that when you come to another country you have to respect the laws and the rules . `` When I go abroad and my children come with me , you educate them on what is the norm in that environment . It 's folly to say that he did n't know that -- he 's an international footballer , he played at the World Cup in South Africa . You ca n't tell me that he did n't understand what was required in this country . '' Suarez reportedly called Senegal-born France international Evra `` negrito '' -- a Spanish term meaning `` black '' which can be endearing when used with friends , but otherwise is considered offensive . British journalist Matthew Syed said Suarez , who played for Dutch club Ajax from 2007 to the start of this year , had no excuse for pleading ignorance about the potential offense such a word could have in the UK . `` I find this defense breathtakingly implausible from Suarez . He 's lived in Europe for four years -- the idea that he did n't know that this particular terminology would be deeply offensive to someone like Patrice Evra is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion , '' Syed told CNN . `` I do n't think it 's an adequate defense anywhere in a multicultural society , in a cosmopolitan environment like football , to say that 'This sort of racist terminology is okay where I come from , so you have to put up with it . ' `` You have to obey the law and conventions of the place you are living in . '' England soccer captain Terry charged with racism . FIFA president Sepp Blatter caused anger when he told CNN last month that there is no problem with on-pitch racism in football , but Mortimer insists that is not the case . `` I think there is an issue , this proves there is an issue , '' the 43-year-old told CNN . `` There are more players that have suffered from racist abuse but never really spoken out about it . `` I myself suffered from it when I was playing . But you find it 's difficult to speak out about it , because the highlight is then put on the victim . `` One question I was always asked was , 'Are you really sure ? ' Am I really sure that someone is racially abusing me ? I think I am . What is black and white becomes gray , because you get questioned . `` Throughout this situation the most important thing is , 'What was said ? Was it said ? ' If it was then it is something we have to deal with -- investigate , and punish if punishment is necessary . '' Liverpool 's Suarez fined , suspended over racist remarks . Syed , a former table tennis international who now writes for The Times , said racism in English football is not as much of a problem as it once was . `` In the 1970s and '80s , football was a place where far-right political groups would stalk the terraces for people to sign up for their hateful ideology , '' he said . `` Black players were booed , monkey chants were issued towards them , banana skins were thrown on the pitch . It 's a lot better now than it was then , no question about that . `` I 'm rather encouraged by the fact that a lot of top players have come out and instead of condoning and being apologetic for what ( Chelsea captain ) John Terry and Suarez are alleged to have said , they 've come out with quite a zero-tolerance approach . '' England skipper Terry is facing criminal charges over alleged racial abuse of Queens Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand , with a possible maximum fine of Â£2,500 . He could face further action from the English Football Association depending on the outcome of his February 1 court case . Suarez 's punishment , the first of its kind in England , paled in comparison to several previous high-profile FA disciplinary rulings . Former England captain Rio Ferdinand was banned eight months in 2004 for missing a drugs test , Eric Cantona was sidelined for the same period in 1995 for karate kicking a fan , and in 1998 Paolo Di Canio was suspended 11 matches for pushing a referee . `` There 's not much of a precedent , it 's a bit like plucking a number out of the air , '' Syed said . `` But even if this is n't as severe as those cases , it is nevertheless a significant deterrent . Liverpool are going to miss Suarez , no doubt about that . `` It 's also a partisan case . It 's not just the clubs that are divided on this moral issue -- Chelsea backing Terry , and Liverpool with Suarez -- it 's also the fans of both clubs . There is an issue for football , the partisanship trumps the bigger moral questions that are the most important ones . ''
CNN officials and players rally around Suarez after his punishment for racist abuse . But an anti-racism campaigner says the club should be trying to educate the player instead . Matthew Syed , also a former player , says Suarez needs to learn cultural understanding . Journalist Uruguayan tells Liverpool that Uruguayan had no excuse for pleading ignorance .