• Ian Ayre claims striker's issues are harming image
• Uruguayan praised as 'footballer and street fighter'
Liverpool's managing director says Luis Suárez's racist abuse and biting incidents have damaged the club's brand.
Ian Ayre, though, says the troubled striker "has responded well to… work on his character."
Suárez returned on Wednesday against Manchester United from a 10-game ban for biting the Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during an English Premier League game in April. Liverpool were beaten 1–0 by Manchester United in the Capital One Cup although Suárez put in an encouraging performance.
The Uruguay international had previously been banned for eight games for racially abusing United's Patrice Evra in 2011.
Speaking at the Sport Industry breakfast in London, Ayre said "any types of incident of that nature are damaging to the brand".
Suárez pushed to leave Liverpool during the off-season but was denied a move, with bids from Arsenal rejected.
Ayre sees Suárez as key to the team, saying "as a footballer, he's a street fighter".
via Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com http://feeds.theguardian.com/c/34708/f/663845/s/31b81bed/sc/13/l/0L0Stheguardian0N0Cfootball0C20A130Csep0C260Cluiz0Esuarez0Eliverpool0Eclub0Ebrand/story01.htm
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