English game has been damaged

English game has been damaged

Published Jan. 30, 2012 1:17 p.m. ET

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is serving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra during a Premier League match in October.

Prince Ali told www.insideworldfootball.biz: "Obviously it's a huge concern for everyone across the world.

"England has a great track record in terms of fair play and a lot of damage has been done.

"The Premier League is seen all over the world and whatever happens there is picked up everywhere else."

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Prince Ali, from Jordan, added that the way in which the Football Association and other football authorities had reacted to the issue had been admired across the world.

He added: "Because of the stature of the Premier League, when people see how things like this are tackled, they reflect on themselves.

"What's important is the solution, not simply focusing on the problem.

"It's a big responsibility. Everyone was watching to see how things would be handled."

Prince Ali is the youngest FIFA executive committee member and is campaigning to overturn the ban on the hijab, the headscarf worn by Muslim women, in football.

He is presenting his case to the International FA Board meeting in March and asking for a change in the laws of the game.

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