Glen Johnson has insisted former Liverpool teammate Luis Suarez is NOT a racist following Jamie Carragher's apology to Patrice Evra earlier this week.
The Reds came in for criticism in December 2011 by wearing t-shirts as they warmed up for a Premier League fixture at Wigan in support of Suarez who was hit with an eight-match ban for the alleged racial abuse of Evra.
Appearing alongside Evra before Sky Sports' coverage of Sheffield United vs Arsenal on Monday night, Carragher admitted the t-shirts had been a "massive mistake" on Liverpool's part.
And Johnson has reiterated the apology, but says Suarez, with whom the former Portsmouth defender is still good friends, isn't racist.
"Carra was right to apologise and I'd have to agree with him; I think the timing of it was wrong as the ban was so close," he told talkSPORT.
"But in the club's defence, they were just trying to support one of their players.
"I don't think anyone in that dressing room or at the club believed Luis was racist or capable of being racist.
"I know Luis really well and I get on well with him, so I find it very, very hard to believe that he would have done something like that.
"It's a very sticky situation for me; I'm stuck in the middle because Luis and I are good mates, and I wouldn't be friends with a racist. I wouldn't be. I'd be the first to turn my back on him and that's why it's awkward for me."
