I’d love to like Luis Suarez… he is one of the most talented players in the world and I am in awe of the great things he can do on a soccer field. I’ve also never hidden my disdain for him because of his behavior on that same field.
After this past season at Liverpool, he was poised to be one of the biggest stars at the World Cup in Brazil. He missed the first match because of injury and then showed incredible resiliency in the next match, scoring two goals and breaking the heart of England.
Now, Luis Suarez is in trouble. Again. During a fantastic match yesterday, the dark side of Suarez emerged when he attempted to bite off a chunk of the Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder late into Uruguay’s final group game. The referee made no call on the play, and Suarez continued in the match. One could speculate that the Italy defense was in shock after the incident and it led to the winning goal being scored for Uruguay. But it isn’t speculation to say that Suarez not being ejected had an effect on the result, and led to the elimination of Italy from the World Cup.
Suarez has a long history of on-field issues, including a racial slur during a match and TWO previous biting incidents – if he was a dog he would have been put down by now! His resume also includes frequent diving and a notorious intentional handball in the 2010 World Cup. Not to mince words… he is a cheater. He has no respect for the game or his fellow players.
What galls me the most about this latest incident is that Suarez was rolling on the ground as if he was the victim… fully aware of what he had just done. And he completely denied any wrong doing in his post game comments, saying “these things happen on the pitch”.
Now all of the doctored photos are showing up on the internet – Suarez with fangs, or his head photoshopped into the children’s game, Hungry, Hungry Hippos. It’s funny, but I’m not in the mood. Because today I’ll be defending my beautiful game to some of my friends and coworkers. And I’m not sure how to do it.
Now, all eyes are on FIFA and we wait to see how soccer’s governing body will respond. It will be argued that this is a single incident, but Luis Suarez has a checkered past that must be examined and considered in any disciplinary proceeding.
Even the staunchest Liverpool or Uruguay supporter should be outraged and must admit that Luis Suarez is a serious problem. I would definitely question the character of anyone who would try to defend him. The powers that be at FIFA must come down hard on him for the good of the game, and before this maniac seriously injures someone.
So I’ll say it… ban him. For life. He’s a stain and a disgrace to his team, his country, and to the game I love. Good riddance to bad rubbish.