It’s a shame really that one of the most memorable World Cups in recent times has become perhaps most memorable so far because of one man’s idiotic actions.
That one man is none other than Luis Suarez.
I’ll be honest, I’m not a Liverpool fan, but anyone defending him for what he’s done should take a look at themselves.
Moments ago, the news came through. FIFA had acted exceptionally quickly and the Uruguayan forward was banned from all ‘football-related activities’ for four months after being charged with biting Italy’s Girogio Chiellini – the forward is now ruled out of the rest of this summer’s tournament and is going to miss a chunk of the domestic season too!
Being banned from all ‘football-related activities’ means that last year’s Premier League’s top scorer will not be allowed to play or train for his club or country for the length of the ban – a move by FIFA that is sure to cause a lot of concern for those involved at Uruguay and Anfield. It is the third time in his career (perhaps more shockingly the third time in four years) that Suarez has been involved in a biting incident of some sort.
Suarez will miss nine competitive games for Uruguay, beginning with their All-South-American clash with Colombia in the last 16 of the World Cup on Saturday and will also be fined £66,000. Suarez will also miss nine Premier League matches as well as three Champions League fixtures as a result of the ban.
Interestingly though, something that some circles thought might be a loophole in the ban, Suarez’s right to appeal does not stop the forward from being banned for Saturday’s match because FIFA say the ban does not have a “suspensive effect”. This was an issue that some journalists were raising as they pointed out that his right to appeal would mean the ban might not come into effect until the appeal is heard and decided upon but FIFA appear to be taking no nonsense with this issue and have left Suarez with nowhere to turn.
Liverpool may have somewhere to turn though as FIFA say the ban on Suarez will not affect the club’s ability to transfer the player; quite who would be willing to pay the astronomical release clause Liverpool are said to have for the player is anyone’s guess. Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked but whether or not their interest will be as strong now that Suarez is likely to miss so much game time is unclear.
What are your thoughts on the ban? Let us know in the comments section below or via Twitter where you can find us at @Fortitude_Sport.
Stick with us here at Fortitude to see how it all pans out.