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LIVERPOOL FC striker Luis Suarez believes he’s singled out for unfair criticism because Manchester United control the English media.

In an interview broadcast in South America the Reds’ top scorer admitted diving to try to win a penalty against Stoke City at Anfield earlier in the season.

However, the Uruguayan denied accusations that he had deliberately handled the ball prior to his controversial winner in the recent FA Cup tie against Mansfield.

“'When someone comes and says to me something bad about being a South American, I don't cry, because that happens inside the pitch,” he said.

“I have my conscience clean. But as I have said Manchester United controls the media, they are powerful and the media will always help them.

“I can help Liverpool. We are united and we can play well. But Liverpool doesn't depend on me.”

Suarez says South American players “suffer” in the Premier League because they are treated differently by the media compared to native stars.

“It's complicated to play here in England,” he said..

“As Carlos (Tevez) and Kun (Aguero) has said, it's complicated for a South American footballer to be here as we are treated differently to the local footballers.

“But they have their culture, they are like this, you know. I have to play football, which is what I always wanted, but I have suffered a lot for being a footballer.”

Suarez believes he has been harshly castigated for going to ground too easily this season but says he was guilty of diving in October's 0-0 home draw with Stoke.

Referee Lee Mason took no action at the time but replays showed he had dropped to his knees in the box without being touched.

“Anyway I don't listen to all the nonsense some people say about me,” he added.

“I'm accused of cheating. People say I throw myself all the time inside the box.

“They said that when we played against Stoke, for instance, and in that case they were right. I invented a foul because we were drawing and I wanted to win.

“Sometimes on the pitch I say to myself 'what have I done?' But the name of Suarez sells papers.

“Recently I touched the ball with my hand accidentally, and I was criticised because I kissed my hand.

“The media make up a lot of things about me because they want to sell papers. I say to the media: you should talk more about football, not about other stuff.”