FA had to throw the book at Suarez

Liverpool fans won't want to hear it I am sure, as losing Suarez for that many games could seriously jeopardise their chances of a top four finish in the Barclays Premier League, but the FA could not turn the other cheek on this one.

Just to recap on how we all ended up here: On October 15, Manchester United defender Patrice Evra made an allegation that Luis Suarez racially abused him during the 1-1 draw between Liverpool and United at Anfield.

This presented a huge test for the FA as there's no denying that the Suarez-Evra case would be tough for anyone to call given that it involved accusations of racism without video evidence. That's why the FA appointed a three-man commission to look at the case from different angles, taking into consideration things like nuance and culture.

After five days of deliberation they decided that an eight match ban and a fine of £40,000 would be sufficient punishment.

Why is it fair?

Steering clear of the argument on whether eight games is too harsh or not harsh enough then you have to say at least the verdict is correct.

It should be noted again that there is no video evidence to back up Evra's claim he had been racially abused "10 times" during the game between Liverpool and United.

Having video evidence would have been great but it is not a determining factor for the outcome of this case. Suarez has already admitted to calling Evra a name, he just hasn't specified what but he argues that it wasn't offensive anyways.

"I didn't insult him. It was only a form of expressing myself. I called him something his own teammates from Manchester call him," Suarez told Uruguayan media not long after the race row between Evra and him erupted.

British media reports Suarez used the Spanish word "negrito" - the word's literal translation is "little black man".

Suarez's case for the defence doesn't hold much water and it appears the FA thinks so too. Yes, generally speaking the term is not considered a racial slur in Latin America but context is an incredibly important issue here.

Anyone who watched the game between Liverpool and Manchester United will know that Suarez and Evra clashed more than a few times during the game. It's hard to imagine that during all the tackling, and pushing and grabbing and jostling for position in the penalty box that went on, Suarez - although he wants us to - was using the term in an endearing manner.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Do I believe Suarez is a racist?

No. I don't believe Suarez lives his life believing that "race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities." His grandfather was black and Suarez as the former captain of Ajax has led multi-raced teams to battle week in and week out.

But whether Suarez is a racist or not isn't the issue here; the issue here is whether in the heat of the moment Suarez made a mistake by overstepping the mark on what is socially acceptable in England with what he said to Evra.

And in this instance, the FA has found the correct answer.

They had to as well.

In the past the FA has condemned racism directed at England players in overseas games in Spain, Slovakia, Macedonia and Croatia. They also reacted strongly against Sepp Blatter's suggestion that the players on the receiving end of any on-the-field racist abuse should settle the matter with a handshake.

Surely then, they would have been wrong not to act in their own back yard.