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• Stewart Downing arrested in Yarm
• Police say ‘inquiries are ongoing’

The Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has been arrested on suspicion of assault.

The 27-year-old, who has 32 caps for England and joined Liverpool from Aston Villa last year, was arrested early on Sunday morning after an alleged confrontation with a former girlfriend at the Cross Keys club, on Yarm High Street.

The Daily Mail website quoted a local source as saying: “She went over to one of his friends and said something that she shouldn’t have. He butted in and they were arguing. Police got there as they were thrown out. He caused a scene outside the club as well, when he realised they were going to take him in.”

A police spokesman said: “Police were called to an incident at a pub on Yarm High Street. A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and a 32-year-old woman has also been arrested on suspicion of assault. Both are in custody and inquiries are ongoing.”

Liverpoolguardian.co.uk

After the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City Liverpool’s manager defended the statements put out earlier by the club and the Uruguayan player over his eight-match FA ban

The following is a transcript from the Liverpool press conference after the Anfield club’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Tuesday night:

Reporter: “Kenny, the wider world is pretty shocked that, if a player can call someone ‘negro’ and the player who is the victim in this takes offence, that there is no apology or contrition offered from your club.”

Dalglish: “I would have thought that, if you pronounced the word properly, you maybe understand it better. I think it was Spanish he was speaking and I don’t think you were speaking Spanish there.”

Reporter: “OK, if a player calls someone ‘negro’ [Spanish pronunciation], surely the player who takes offence deserves an apology?”

Dalglish: “Ask a linguistic expert, which certainly I am not. They will tell you that the part of the country in Uruguay where he [Luis Suárez] comes from, it is perfectly acceptable. His wife calls him that and I don’t think he is offended by her. We have made a statement and I think it is there for everybody to read. Luis has made a brilliant statement and we will stand by him.”

Reporter: “But the FA verdict said it was ’simply incredible’ to suggest it wasn’t used in an offensive way when they were clearly arguing and it wasn’t friendly.”

Dalglish: “There’s a lot of things we’d like to say and a lot we could say but we would only get ourselves in trouble. We are not trying to be evasive … well, we are being evasive because we don’t like getting ourselves in trouble. But we know what has gone on. We know what is not in the report and that’s important for us. So without me getting ourselves in trouble, I think that’s it finished.”

Reporter: “Why take the ban now and not play the next three games, including the Carling Cup semi-final against Manchester City?”

Dalglish: “He could have played for a fortnight but he has to serve eight games at some stage and this time is as good as any, isn’t it? It was better to get the situation over and done with.”

Reporter: “Mark Lawrenson was saying on the radio that you’ve got to fear now whether Suárez may feel unsettled playing in England. Is that a concern?”

Dalglish: “Because Mark Lawrenson said it? No. I don’t see why we have to reply to anybody. If you’re asking if I have any concern about Luis playing in England, then no.”

Reporter: “Is he strong enough?”

Dalglish: “I don’t have a problem with Luis playing in England.”

Reporter: “Do you regret wearing the T-shirts?”

Dalglish: “You see, if one of you guys were in trouble, would you help him? Would you support him if you knew the truth and you knew it was right? Would you support him?”

Reporter: “But not with T-shirts when he has been found guilty …”

Dalglish: “Why not? If they want to show their support for their team-mate, what’s wrong with that? It was a fabulous statement to make visually of their support for a guy who is endeared in the dressing room, one of their closest friends in the dressing room, and all of his friends in the dressing room can speak up adequately and perfectly well for him. And I think it is very dangerous and unfortunate that you don’t actually know the whole content of what went on at the hearing. I’m not prepared, and I can’t say it, but I am just saying it is really unfortunate you never got to hear it. That’s all I’m saying.”

Reporter: “Kenny, given how the wider public are so opposed to your view, what do you have to lose by telling us and revealing what you’re saying was not included in the FA statement?”

Dalglish: “It’s up to the club to decide what they want to do.”

Reporter: “But if you have something to say, surely say it – because the alternative is you are digging a bigger hole for yourself?”

Dalglish: “I don’t think we are digging a bigger hole but I just think it’s unfortunate we can’t be more forthcoming. That’s the unfortunate thing.”

Reporter: “In your two statements you basically accused the FA of a conspiracy against your club.”

Dalglish: “So they have made a statement then …”

Liverpool press officer intervenes and asks for no more questions on Suárez.

Reporter: “The hearing was to lay out all the evidence, 115 pages of evidence, and you have said they [the FA] have done it subjectively. So why do you think the FA are targeting Liverpool and Suárez?”

Dalglish: “Maybe wrong place, wrong time. It could have been anybody. I can’t answer for the FA, you ask them.”

Reporter: “You think there is an agenda against Liverpool?”

Dalglish: “No. You said that. I never. You get yourself in trouble, I’m all right.”

Reporter: “Are you concerned Suárez’s first game back could be at Old Trafford?”

Dalglish: “I’ll just be delighted to get him back.”

LiverpoolKenny DalglishLuis SuárezThe FADaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk

Former footballer who racially abused another player in 2002 relives events in light of the Luis Suárez and John Terry cases

It was about 7.30am on Wednesday and John Mackie had just finished setting up his fruit and veg stall in Camden. He popped inside a pub across the road from the business he has run ever since he retired from professional football in 2008, following a career that included spells with Reading, Leyton Orient and Brentford, to use the loo, only to be stopped in his tracks.

“Sky Sports News was on, showing Luis Suárez and that he had been banned for eight games,” Mackie says. “I was watching it for five minutes. There was no sound, then Kirsty Gallacher came on and I was sure that she said my name. And then the press conference back in 2002 came on … I thought: ‘I don’t really need this.’ I