Soccer:English PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has warned that the game is heading for anarchy unless the FA step in to sort out Luis Suarez's feud with Patrice Evra.

The Liverpool striker’s refusal to shake Evra’s hand prior to yesterday’s Premier League game with Manchester United painted English football in the worst possible light to hundreds of millions around the world watching one of the most high-profile fixtures.

Despite indicating to manager Kenny Dalglish he would engage with the United skipper on his first start since serving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra at Anfield in October, Suarez ignored him, sparking an angry reaction that resulted in a half-time tunnel fracas.

It also prompted an over-the-top celebration from Evra at the final whistle, something both Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand have since suggested was probably unwise.

Taylor could hardly believe what he was seeing. And now he feels the FA must do something.

“We are heading for anarchy,” he said. “That is what happens when people do not abide by the rules.

“Racism is part of society and football is trying to set an example by dealing with it. No matter what individual opinions may be, you have to respect the rules.

“What happened at Old Trafford was not good for the game. It was disrespectful, inappropriate and embarrassing.

“We cannot afford to disengage with Liverpool on this and as the governing body, the FA must take the lead because quite frankly, after all the work that has been done, what I saw was depressing.”

After keeping his counsel on the entire issue since October, Ferguson was so annoyed he branded Suarez “a disgrace” who should never play for Liverpool again.

Having already defended his man in a flash TV interview, Dalglish opted not to make himself available for further discussion on the matter.

Long-time friend Alan Hansen did not say on Match of the Day last night whether he had spoken to Dalglish prior to transmission.

However, his own observation was withering in its condemnation.

“Liverpool FC made a statement that there would be a handshake,” he said. “Luis Suarez was party to the statement. He knew about it and obviously agreed with it. To snub Patrice Evra was, in my view, totally unacceptable.

“The football club and the manager have given him total and unequivocal support through thick and thin. He has let Kenny Dalglish down, the club down and himself down.”

If those comments were delivered with Dalglish’s consent, Suarez may have a limited shelf life at Anfield.

Even if Hansen spoke without authority, the simple fact that owner John Henry has been advised to get involved by an editorial in the New York Times shows just how far the ripples have spread, generating its own tsunami that threatens to engulf the Merseyside outfit.

“I think you are very severe and bang out of order to blame Luis Suarez for anything that happened here today, right,” was Dalglish’s on-screen response to those instant questions.

Today those words appear hopelessly inadequate to deal with a situation for which many senior people within football believe Dalglish bears a heavy responsibility due to the confrontational manner in which he has approached the entire Suarez-Evra debate.

Questions are also being asked of the Premier League as they did have the option of scrapping the handshake and therefore diffusing the potential for trouble.

There has been no official reaction to that. However, privately, they argue that to pick and choose when to hold the handshake would set a dangerous precedent.

It has also been pointed out that club representatives and match officials all believe the ‘Get on with the Game’ initiative, of which the handshake is a part, has received broad agreement.

Referee Phil Dowd has the option of reporting the confrontations at the start, and then the end of each half to the FA in an ‘extraordinary incident report’.

However, the ramifications will be felt for some considerable time yet.

“Somebody from Liverpool has to explain why he (Suarez) refused to shake Evra’s hand,” said England’s first black international, Viv Anderson, who was covering the game for MUTV.

“I played football for 20 years. The racist abuse I received from fellow professionals could be counted on the fingers of one hand. The FA produced a 100-page dossier on this and gave Suarez an eight-match ban.

“Only he can answer why he didn’t shake hands because rather ending it, this will now go on and on.”