[youtube]http://youtu.be/5-H4rrJQt3E[/youtube]Liverpool’s Luis Suárez bit Chealsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in the match on April 21, 2013 which resulted in a 2-2 draw. Those watching the match on television could see the incident live, while the Football Association has had to review it retrospectively because it was missed by the authorities during the match.
The Punishment
Luis Suárez is facing a possible ban for an uncertain number of matches if the bite episode is seen as a case of violent conduct. Liverpool Football Club has already fined Suárez and Ian Ayre, the club’s managing director, has stated that, although they have dealt with the issue internally, they are awaiting the Football Association’s decision. He has affirmed, though, that the episode goes against Liverpool’s values and ethics.
The Professional Footballer’s Association chairman, Gordon Taylor, has stated that Suárez’s behaviour is a bad example for all those who regard football players as role models. With only four games left in the season, a lengthy ban would end Suárez’s season too early.
The Background
Suárez has been called out for admitting that he dived during a match against the English club Stoke City, but that seems like a light offence if compared with his other biting episode: In 2010, the Uruguayan football player bit Otman Bakkal during a match between his former team, Ajax Amsterdam, and the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. On that occasion, Suárez was given a seven-match ban.
Suárez’s reputation was also at play after his intentional handball in a match against Ghana during the World Cup and his eight-match ban after he abused Patrice Evra, a player at Manchester United.
The Aftermath
Even though the ex-Liverpool manager, Graeme Souness, stated that he believes Luis Suárez was complicating his own possibilities to stay at the club due to Liverpool’s need to safeguard its name, Ayre has firmly stated that the club is not planning to sell the player. Truth be told, Luis Suárez is very productive for the club, already delivering thirty goals this season. He has already signed a new contract for another four years and the club has not opposed to him seeing it through. Ayre has further affirmed that the event will in fact affect the player’s future, but only in the sense that he will have to work on his discipline and his character in the future.
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