The following view is not going to be popular, but here it is.
For those of you who haven't been following the World Cup controversy, Luis Suarez is the Uruguayan football star who plays for Liverpool and won the British Premier League Player of the Year award after a dismal season the previous year, shortened by a major penalty for biting an opponent at a heated moment during a game. Scarcely a month ago, Suarez had knee surgery and his appearance in Brazil was reason enough to marvel, much less his massive role in leading Uruguay to two victories with goals seemingly based in sheer willpower.
It is hard to imagine both the pressure and relief on a player of immense talent and one who fought and won his own vindication against -- at the least -- a hostile press. Then, a few days ago in the midst of another heated moment in a match against Italy, Suarez did it again. Not everyone reflexively responds to the constant pressure in a World Cup game by biting another player, in fact we don't have another example.
Instantly, commentators were calling for Suarez' head. Ban him from the World Cup. Be gone, biter!
Biting is an egregious foul, but this wasn't a Mike Tyson style latching onto an ear with his teeth. He didn't break someone's leg or shatter an ankle or knee with a deliberate foul. He didn't break skin. Suarez did what a child would do. The paradox is clear: we want our sports stars to be adult role models but the physical performances that make them stars requires a recessive lack of self-awareness. It is no surprise that in many sports, top athletes leave the best of themselves on fields of play.
So when ESPN's commentators -- some of them former world class players -- instantly condemned Suarez, my antennae went up.
The Suarez moment was reflexive like a third grader reacting to a play ground insult. The only difference is that he did it in front of a world wide television audience. Only the field officials apparently missed it. Now it is up to FIFA officials to decide what to do.
My view is they shouldn't "do" anything. If he had torn an ear, like Mike Tyson did with his teeth: then, yes. But that is not what happened. Banning Suarez from the rest of the World Cup will mean the end for Uruguay. Give Suarez a warning -- attached to a harsh penalty for future biting -- but, not a death penalty. The embarrassment to Suarez is penalty enough.
For those of you who haven't been following the World Cup controversy, Luis Suarez is the Uruguayan football star who plays for Liverpool and won the British Premier League Player of the Year award after a dismal season the previous year, shortened by a major penalty for biting an opponent at a heated moment during a game. Scarcely a month ago, Suarez had knee surgery and his appearance in Brazil was reason enough to marvel, much less his massive role in leading Uruguay to two victories with goals seemingly based in sheer willpower.
It is hard to imagine both the pressure and relief on a player of immense talent and one who fought and won his own vindication against -- at the least -- a hostile press. Then, a few days ago in the midst of another heated moment in a match against Italy, Suarez did it again. Not everyone reflexively responds to the constant pressure in a World Cup game by biting another player, in fact we don't have another example.
Instantly, commentators were calling for Suarez' head. Ban him from the World Cup. Be gone, biter!
Biting is an egregious foul, but this wasn't a Mike Tyson style latching onto an ear with his teeth. He didn't break someone's leg or shatter an ankle or knee with a deliberate foul. He didn't break skin. Suarez did what a child would do. The paradox is clear: we want our sports stars to be adult role models but the physical performances that make them stars requires a recessive lack of self-awareness. It is no surprise that in many sports, top athletes leave the best of themselves on fields of play.
So when ESPN's commentators -- some of them former world class players -- instantly condemned Suarez, my antennae went up.
The Suarez moment was reflexive like a third grader reacting to a play ground insult. The only difference is that he did it in front of a world wide television audience. Only the field officials apparently missed it. Now it is up to FIFA officials to decide what to do.
My view is they shouldn't "do" anything. If he had torn an ear, like Mike Tyson did with his teeth: then, yes. But that is not what happened. Banning Suarez from the rest of the World Cup will mean the end for Uruguay. Give Suarez a warning -- attached to a harsh penalty for future biting -- but, not a death penalty. The embarrassment to Suarez is penalty enough.
3 comments:
Just to be clear, this is NOT an isolated incident. This would be the THIRD time that Suarez has bitten an opponent. Each of the other two times, he was penalized and fined.
So, letting this, the third incident pass without some significant penalty is just ridiculous, and demeaning to those he has attacked. (In most parts of the world, a vicious bite would be Criminal Assault)
Suspension is critical in this highly visible event. It sends a signal to all players. When Mike Tyson bit that ear, I was finished with boxing. And never returned. Many will never even watch that sport if they even think they will be witness to someone bite another person.
Very hard to argue against the position expressed by our readers … obviously mine didn't get very far!
UK Guardian: "
Fifa’s independent disciplinary committee has banned Luis Suárez from all football-related activity for four months after he was seen biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
The decision means the Liverpool striker, who has also been fined £66,000, will miss the rest of Uruguay’s World Cup campaign and the start of the domestic season. He is banned from Uruguay’s next nine competitive matches in total, and from entering any stadium during this period.
Uruguay’s FA are able to appeal against the sanctions, but even if the appeal is lodged and the process is under way he will not be able play in any matches."
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