Going by that theory, anyone that's done anything wrong on a pitch shouldn't be considered then. Yellow cards are a form of punishment too, should no player that's been carded during a course of a season be on the list too then? Ridiculous! The award is about who was the best player, not who was the best behaved! Suarez was awesome and not many even come close to him on last seasons performances. there is only one thing more ridiculous then that and that is if you are suggesting FIFA (of all people) take a moral high ground...!!!
But none of them were crimes punished by FIFA. If FIFA had punished and banned Ronaldo for a serious offence, he wouldn't on the list too however good he was.
I meant a serious offence that needed a committee being set up and a long ban. see #42. If Ronaldo had committed the same offence (bitten someone) he wouldn't be on the list too. PS: it isn't moral high ground. It is about not shooting yourself in the foot...
Quite embarrassing that there are hardly any A.Madrid players* on the list despite them winning La Liga and reaching the CL final last season. *there are no current players but Diego Costa is on the list due to his exploits as a A.Madrid player
Extreme Scenario (unlikely I accept) to make my point: Ronaldo deliberately attacks a referee at the WC by a series of punches. The ref suffers serious permanent brain damage as a result. FIFA bans Ronaldo for 2 years from all football activities. Would Ronaldo be included for the most prestigious award FIFA can give to a player?? No and no one in football would expect FIFA to include him either. Suarez is definitely top three in the world IMO. But I can understand why they didn't include in the nominations for their most prestigious award.
Doesn't matter. The award is for how he performed during the season and not dependent on a mad few seconds in one match. I'd say he wasn't included because he wasn't playing European football. How many on that list weren't playing in Europe? Also, see my last comment about A.Madrid players and tell me the list isn't an shambles
The irony of people laughing at LVG being on the list, the same people crying that Suarez is not on it. Yet they both won the same amount of silverware and one of those had 2 biting bans within the space of a year and wonders why he's not on the list
The fella bit another player at FIFA's showcase event - the World Cup. How could they hand him the honour of the best player on the planet award after banning him for 4 months as he'd embarrassed the game? Behave.
Just to prove how wrong that is - 2006 Zidane disgraces himself/France/FIFA at WC - was nominated for player of the year and came a close second to Cannavaro.
LVG on the list is funny as all hell! I don't mind Suarez not being on the list. I don't think he should be.
The real irony is that one of those was at the top of his game last season and is not on the list. The other is van Gaal, who is.
[video=youtube;zAjWi663kXc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAjWi663kXc&feature=player_embedded[/video] Nominated for World player of year - came close second. Yeah FIFA couldn't possibly endorse a player who's embarrassed the game ....
Lee hughes could play better than anyone but his behaviour would exclude him from such an award. And ronaldo was miles better than the flat tracker.