Kenny Dalglish defends Liverpool conduct over Luis Suarez

Kenny Dalglish has defended Liverpool's conduct during the Luis Suarez affair and insists the full facts have not been made public.

Liverpool will not appeal against the Uruguayan's eight-match suspension for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

But the player and club maintained a defiant stance with strong statements.

"I don't think we are digging a bigger hole - it is unfortunate we cannot be more forthcoming," Dalglish said.

An independent Football Association commission ruled that Suarez, 24, had racially abused Evra during a 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Manchester United in October.

The commission's report stated that Suarez, 24, had used the term "negro" seven times in around two minutes and claimed he had damaged the reputation of English football around the world with his conduct.

It also criticised the striker for providing "unreliable" and "inconsistent" evidence at the hearing.

Liverpool announced they would not be appealing against Suarez's ban, yet both player and club subsequently issued statements in which they refused to accept responsibility and criticised the way the affair had been handled.

In his statement, Suarez said: "I will carry out the suspension with the resignation of someone who hasn't done anything wrong and who feels extremely upset by the events."

After Liverpool's 3-0 defeat by Manchester City, which Suarez missed because he was starting his ban, Dalglish said: "Luis has made a brilliant statement and we stand by him.

"There are a lot of things we'd like to say and a lot of things we could say but we don't want to get ourselves into trouble. We know what has gone on. We know what is not in the report and that is important for us.

"It is unfortunate that you don't actually know the whole content of what went on at the hearing. I cannot go any further."

Suarez admitted saying the word "negro" to Evra, yet Dalglish argued the Uruguayan's background and nationality should have been taken into account by the independent commission.

"I would have thought that if you pronounced the word properly, you maybe understand it better," he said.

"If you get into asking a linguistic expert, which certainly I am not, they will tell you that the part of the country in Uruguay where he [Suarez] comes from, it is perfectly acceptable.

"His wife calls him that and I don't think he is offended by her."

And Dalglish defended the much-criticised decision by himself and his players to wear T-shirts in support of Suarez at the Wigan match before Christmas.

"If one of your guys was in trouble would you help and support him if you knew it was the truth and you knew it was right?" he asked.

"If they want to show their support for their team-mate, what is wrong with that? I think it is a fabulous statement to make visually of your support for a guy who is endeared in the dressing room."

For the latest updates and reaction to this story, read Sportsday Live. Have your say on Twitter via the hashtag #bbcsportsday.