Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has reopened the racism row by claiming the eight-match ban he received last season was due to Manchester United's "political power".
Suarez has been linked with a move away from Liverpool on a number of occasions in recent months, with speculation about his future rife following last year's high profile clash with United defender Patrice Evra.
And the Uruguay international, who was banned for racially abusing Evra in addition to receiving a £40,000 fine, has hit out at the Red Devils.
Speaking on Uruguayan television show RR Gol, Suarez said: "They were very tough days to me. I am not used to showing what I really feel, but the trial week was very difficult. I also cried alongside my wife.
"People at Liverpool are sure that it was a way that Manchester United used to put me out of the team and stop Liverpool. In England, Manchester United's political power is strong and you must respect that and shut your mouth."
The controversy was re-ignited in February, when Suarez refused to shake hands with Evra during a Premier League clash between the two sides at Old Trafford.
The incident led to Suarez being forced to issued an apology for his actions at the time.
But he added: "In England, it was shown the moment when I passed in front of him, but they didn't see that he had his hand low before.
"Only the media in Uruguay and Spain showed that I wanted to shake his hand.
"Previously, I had promised my wife, the manager and the directors that I was going to shake hands with Evra. There was a chance for the teams not to shake hands like in a game between QPR and Chelsea [following the Anton Ferdinand-John Terry racism row], but I told them I was to shake hands with him.
"'Why not?', I thought, because I had no problems with him. I had been punished because of him, but I had no problems with shaking hands."
And of the initial incident, he added: "The [disciplinary hearing] was so complicated for me.
"I had to go to Manchester in a taxi for the trial. I got up at seven in the morning and I came home at nine at night.
"I was exhausted, I was so tired. I wanted to cry, and kick all the things around me.
"I came home and I wanted to do all that, but I couldn't because my daughter was at home. There were really complicated days, and then things became harder after the punishment."