I (rightly) haven’t heard one person defend Suarez’s actions, or play the ‘he’s a nice lad really’ card, probably because he patently isn’t. Former Liverpool player and manager Graham Souness labelled it “embarrassing” in his post-match analysis, arguing that it puts Suarez in the “last chance saloon” as far as his Liverpool career is concerned. Suarez apologised soon after the match saying, “I apologise to Ivanovic and all the football world for my inexcusable behaviour.” Liverpool managing director, Ian Ayre, said, “His behaviour is not befitting of any player wearing a Liverpool shirt and Luis is aware that he has let himself and everyone associated with the club down.”
Compare this to Tony Pulis, who said of Shawcross’ violent kick, “It was an awkward challenge, not a dirty challenge…I know Ryan and he has no bad blood in him.” David Kemp, the former assistant manager at Stoke, used a similar line of defence, arguing, “Ryan isn’t that sort of player.” Kemp, however, made this comment in 2007 after Shawcross had broken Francis Jeffers’ ankle in another Arsenal fixture, somehow making both men’s arguments redundant.
Like Suarez, Shawcross most definitely is that kind of player. In addition to those two bone-breaking fouls, he injured Emmanuel Adebayor in the Stoke v Arsenal match in 2008, when the player and the ball were both off the pitch.
Similarly, Alex McLeish predictably said after the Eduardo injury, “Martin’s not that kind of player…yes, the studs land on Eduardo’s ankle…but he’s not a malicious player.” ‘The‘ studs – as if Taylor’s boots jumped off his feet and ended up embedded in Eduardo’s ankle of their own accord.
Back to the present day and Luis Suarez. On Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp was incensed. He fumed, “What’s he doing? That is an absolutely incredible act of brutality. It’s madness.” He’s right, of course; biting someone is disgusting. But I would say the same of committing a foul that you know from past experience will probably break someone’s leg. And Redknapp’s comments wouldn’t be at all out of place had they been applied to the acts of brutality committed by Ryan Shawcross, Martin Taylor and others like them.
Redknapp continued, “What message will that send if he doesn’t get a two or three-game ban?” With the ten-match suspension, the FA have certainly sent the message that Suarez’s actions were wrong. I don’t think even young Liverpool fans in the school playground will be in doubt about that.
The Suarez bite has attracted more attention and outrage because it’s more unusual. But it’s a shame that broken bones aren’t more unusual in football as well.
Good defensive tackling is a skill and should be encouraged. Like biting, however, leg-breaking shouldn’t. So why don’t the FA send the same message about violent tackles as they have done about biting? I can only conclude that the FA think biting an opponent’s arm is much worse a crime than breaking someone’s leg with a reckless, vicious tackle.
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The FA are a joke, Fellaini gets a 3 match ban for a blatant and dangerous head butt and Suarez gets 10, pack of overpaid Manchester United Executives
Or for that matter having broken Alonso’s leg previously, Lampard went to ground sliding in on the now recovered Alonso then sneered to his pal Terry as if to say did you see what I just did, that’ll keep his mind distracted during this game whenever he’s got the ball. The hypocrites that booed Suarez’s inclusion in the team of the year and his omission from player of the year whilst a diving cheat is obviously something for the kids to look up to in Gareth Bale. Foul mouthed and spitting in front of millions of TV viewers is also very acceptable form s of behavior and copied nay practiced to perfection by the young admirers of others who don’t warrant such outrage because they aren’t media scapegoats and targets. Hypocritical and corrupt at every level for the last 25 years.
Great article and straight to the point
i have to say that the FA seem to have made more trouble than the Liverpool player himself, setting a standard has to come from both sides
Suarez has immediately apologized and excepted his ban
The FA on the other hand seem to go with the knee jerk reaction of the media, the public then don’t form there own true opinion and go with the lazy option of just going with the media hate campaign towards Suarez
the FA have a lot to answer for and come across as a borderline corrupt organization
its time for the English FA to have a complete over haul and put real people in place who are in touch with reality
I don’t think it’s even the leg breaking incidents they do nothing about. What about when Balotelli stamped on a players head? What about McManaman’s tackle vs Newcastle? What abotu Aguero’s recent challenge? What about Robert Huth on Suarez?
All either went unpunished or had a 3 match ban.
I can understand legs being broken on challenges as that is football, you slide in and things happen. it’s the two footed challenges and two footed stamps that break legs that th FA need to dish out punishments for. Maybe the player should be banned until the other player returns to training!
Spot on. The FA now has it all to do. I do not mind Suarez getting a ban (10 games propably to much though) but what are the FA going to do next time someone spits, elbows, kicks and so on. Should be interessting…
According to the FA, a bite on the arm is much worse than a broken leg!!!
To the FA then,i’ll let you bite me while i break your leg and we’ll see should i say.
What about England international Defoe eating Mascheranos finger. and Huthe trampolining on Suarez’s back. Not to mention Felanis elbowing anyone who come near him. Oh and our wonderful Prime Minister who left his child behind in the pub.
apparently its even worse than racism
fa is a corruct org.
f.a are bunch of shit..