Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has condemned the criticism of Patrice Evra by his Brighton counterpart Gus Poyet, accusing the Uruguayan of being "a bit silly" with his observations about the race row involving countryman Luis Suarez.
The Football Association have charged Liverpool striker Suarez with making racist comments to Evra at Anfield last month.
Liverpool have already stated their intention to stand behind their man, who has insisted he has done nothing wrong.
Ferguson has noted comments being "drip fed" by the Merseyside giants, in direct contravention of the FA's request for both clubs not to comment.
However, the Scot reserved his greatest criticism for Poyet, who has accused Evra of "crying like a baby" over the matter and followed up with the claim he would defend Suarez "to the hilt".
"Gus Poyet's remarks are inappropriate at this time," said Ferguson.
"People throughout the world are condemning racism. He has chosen the wrong time.
"I can understand why he wants to support someone from his country but he has to think about it more.
"I don't know how the question has been loaded but it seems his criticism of Evra is a bit silly.
"We have been asked by the FA not to say anything about the Evra situation. We have abided by that," Ferguson added.
"Liverpool have been drip-feeding a lot of stuff out over the last couple of weeks. But the FA will deal with it."
Poyet maintained his defence of Suarez on Friday morning, saying he would go to court to prove the Liverpool striker is not a racist.
"I know Luis very well and I will go to court if someone wants to prove he's not racist," he told talkSPORT.
"I can assure you and everyone Luis is not a racist. We use different words and it is a different kind of situation.
"We live in Uruguay with plenty of people who have different colour skin. We all live together and play football together.
"What hurts me the most is that you accuse someone. Luis Suarez has been accused of being a racist."
Poyet believes Suarez's comments have been taken out of context because of cultural differences between England and South America.
Suarez moved to England in January following his transfer to Liverpool and Poyet - who has lived in the UK for 14 years - believes the 24-year-old striker should be cut some slack because racism is perceived differently in his homeland.
"You cannot accuse people without a proper investigation, especially when it's a foreigner who is coming from a different place where we treat people of colour in a different way," he said.
"So it was very easy to accuse someone. Luis Suarez is 100% not a racist.
"You are not racist when you go against one, but [you are] if you go against the whole world of different colour and nationalities. That is being racist, not saying one word in one moment.
"If that's what you want, fair enough. I take it and accept it. I had to behave in a different way because I've been in England for 13 years. So I know what you are like and I adapt to that.
"Give Suarez another six months and I think he'll be how you want him to be."
Last night Poyet hit out at Evra, who following the incident told French television station Canal Plus that Suarez had used a racist insult to him "at least 10 times", for his role.
Quoted in several newspapers, the former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder said: "I played for seven years in Spain and was called everything because I was from South America.
"And I never went out crying like a baby, like Patrice Evra, saying that someone said something to me."
