As I understand it he has 14(?) days to appeal. Meaning he can play in matches until then. If he doesn't appeal and takes his ban now he'll miss the PL and CC game against City. If he waits the full 14 days and appeals he'll miss both CC legs, as well as PL games against United, Spurs and Everton. With Arsenal the first opponents when he's due back. Do you think he should appeal and possibly miss some really crucial games, or just accept it. Lets be honest, having just made a decision on his guilt and ban length are the FA really going to turn round and say "Whooops we were wrong!". Even if they were they wouldn't admit it.
The hope is perhaps for a reduced ban. However, as you point out, it may not make any difference. If it's reduced to, say, 5 matches, and he plays in our next 3 (in the 14 day period) then it'll work out as if he's served the full 8 matches anyway in terms of what he misses. That's the thing, though. If it had been dealt with sooner, he'd have missed QPR, Fulham and Villa - ties that I feel we wouldn't have suffered to greatly from his loss in. (albeit he did score the winner against QPR.) But even so, rather those than the CC semi.
The appeal board is different to the original judiciary panel. Their agenda might not be so clear cut and biased from the get go. Although if it is really the FA giving orders from the top rather than the panel, as we'd like to think, then an appeal will do **** all and the punishment will stick. The whole thing is pathetic. An ambiguos comment with little evidence can hardly deserve more than a 2 match ban. Show trial.
The thought would be the FA have now "sent their message" they would want suarez to appeal and get this reduced to 4 games so by the time they hear terry's case they can give him 4 and be done with it especially as chelsea will then schedule some rest for his achilles and benefit england for euros..... FA get their political statement, terry gets off lightly and we get the bad rep. Time to switch off all hot water to refs and operate on work to rule... give the FA nothing more than the bare minimum for anything. be severely critical of every ref via many channels and just act the bad boys.
