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| Branislav Ivanovic bite was'nt the first...! |
The incident came midway through the second half of a game that ended in a 2-2 tie, and it capped an eventful day for
Suárez, who assisted wonderfully on Daniel Sturridge’s tying goal early in the second half; earned a yellow card for a handball that gave Chelsea a penalty and a 2-1 lead; bit Ivanovic; and then scored the winner equalizer on what amounted to the final touch of the game.
It was quite a day, even if it could be Suárez’s last at Liverpool. The Football Association will investigate the biting allegation, and a ban of any length will probably cover the Reds’ final few games. Neither manager Chelsea’s Rafa Benitez, who received a warm welcome at Anfield on Sunday in respect for his once managing Liverpool to the European Cup, and Brendan Rodgers, who leads the Reds now offered a comment on the biting charge immediately after the game, saying they had not reviewed it, but others were quick to offer their opinions.
“I’m not sure what to make of it,” the former Liverpool manager Graeme Souness said on Sky. “Embarrassing. He’s making it very difficult for himself to stay at Liverpool. That puts him in the last-chance saloon.
“Most important is safeguarding the good name of the football club. Liverpool are world renowned. People will be talking about this for a long, long time, and it will show Liverpool in a very bad light.”
Ivanovic protested Suarez’s action immediately to the referee, Kevin Friend, even pulling up his shirt sleeve to show him a mark, but neither Friend nor his linesmen appeared to have seen the incident. Millions watching on television did, however, and the condemnation was immediate, especially since this was not Suárez’s first bite at the apple, so to speak.
In November 2010, Suárez then playing for Ajax Amsterdam was suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven’s Otman Bakkal during a Dutch league game.
The previous biting incident came only months after Suárez drew worldwide criticism for his intentional handball against Ghana in the World Cup, and about a year before he was suspended for eight games for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. (There have been other incidents, too, not to mention his well-earned reputation as a serial diver.)
“There is that madness-genius gene in him because as a player he’s exceptional, with people talking about him being player of the year, but what he did today, is indefensible,” said the former Liverpool player Jamie Redknapp, a Sky Sports analyst.
“Even the staunchest Liverpool supporters cannot look at that and think that’s alright. Why on earth would you want to take a chunk out of someone’s arm when you are on a football field? That is an absolutely incredible act of brutality. It’s madness.”
Madness, but as he said, mixed with a little genius. His goal on Sunday on a header 6 minutes 30 seconds (!) into added time was Suárez’s 30th this season, and it cost Chelsea two vital points in their battle with their London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham for the Premier League’s final two Champions League berths next season.
Suárez never played for Ajax again after the first biting incident; the club sold him to Liverpool during that winter’s January transfer window. And while his time at Anfield has been turbulent, it has also been incredibly productive. That is why clubs would probably line up to sign Suárez, if Liverpool decides this latest incident is a bite too far.
Luis Suarez said: “I am deeply sorry for my inexcusable behaviour earlier today during our match against Chelsea.
“I have issued an apology and have tried to contact Branislav Ivanović to speak to him personally. I apologise also to my manager, playing colleagues and everyone at Liverpool Football Club for letting them down.”
The club’s managing director Ian Ayre commented: “Luis has made an unreserved apology for his actions today.
“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. We will deal with the matter internally and await any action from the FA.”
Brendan Rodgers added: “Having reviewed the video footage and spoken to Luis, his behaviour is unacceptable and I have made him aware of this.”
He also apologized on Twitter, and to Ivanovic later Sunday evening.
Credits: The New York Times
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