Liverpool striker Luis Suarez said on Sunday he is upset by accusations he racially abused Manchester United full back Patrice Evra during their Premier League match on Saturday.
Evra told French television station Canal+ that Suarez had racially abused him "at least 10 times" during the 1-1 draw at Anfield and the English Football Association is to investigate the claims.
A Liverpool spokesman said Suarez denied the charge and the Uruguayan released a statement via Twitter and Facebook on Sunday.
"I'm upset by the accusations of racism," he said.
"I can only say that I have always respected and respect everybody. We are all the same. I go to the field with the maximum illusion of a little child who enjoys what he does, not to create conflicts."
Suarez and Evra were involved in a series of tussles throughout the 1-1 draw and Evra later told Canal+: "There are cameras, you can see him. He says a certain word to me at least 10 times.
"I was very upset. In 2011 you can't say things like this. He knows what he said, the ref knows it, it will come out. I won't repeat what he said, but it was a racist word, and he said it more than 10 times.
"He tried to wind me up. I won't make a huge deal out of it, but it's very upsetting and disappointing."
Talking to UK newspaper The Observer, a spokesman for Liverpool said that the first the club knew about it was when Kenny Dalglish, the manager, was summoned to the referee's office 20 minutes after the match.
"The first thing we did, as you would expect, is ask the player and he has categorically denied using any language of that nature," the spokesman said.
In their statement, the FA said: "Referee Andre Marriner was made aware of an allegation at the end of the fixture and reported this to the FA. The FA will now begin making inquiries into the matter."
