I'd much rather someone bite me on the arm on purpose than fly in knee height recklessly with excessive force. McManaman's challenge was much worse than this. He didn't get a ban at all despite the referee giving nothing at the time. The thing with McManaman is he'd done the same in the past, he's a **** player.
Absolutely right, same issue with Portsmouth, seem to get off lightly where other teams were punished much more severely, despite overspending on a much larger scale (though I think it was more the football league than the FA, but still all the football organizations in this country are quite inconsistent). If they have these rules they should stick to them, it was clearly harm with intent, not a misplaced tackle, and should be treated as such in every circumstance. Although I do agree that considering Suarez past antics this does make it a little more exceptional.
Unless a player is gasping for air, and the opponent's arm sweeps around and ends up in the player's mouth. A very rare occurrence I would imagine.
I do think a 10 game ban was the absolute minimum, especially as he'd done it before. Can anyone of you imagine still being in employment if you'd bitten someone, unprovoked..? As Liverpool wanted to keep him, they had to suffer not having him for a long while. Personally, I would have made the ban longer.
I agree - things seem to be out of proportion. The worst Suarez could have done was give him rabies. The biting is cringingly embarrassing more than anything - a habit kids grow out by the time they are five.
Absolutely spot on. The FA took action on Ben Thatcher after the ref had taken action, so they can if they deem an offence exceptional. They didn't with Defoe, so therefore Suarez's offense should have been dealt with in the same way (not exceptional). Violent conduct unseen by the referee carries a 3 game ban, not a 10 game ban. They can not deem the same offense as exceptional in some cases and not others. Biting is either exceptional or it's not. It shouldn't depend on whether you are an English international. What about his previous biting , remember the FA don't consider biting exceptional (see Defoe case) therefore are the FA going to start taking other non exceptional cases for 2 years prior into account in future disciplinary events? Had the ref yellow carded Suarez, you can bet your life the FA would have increased the punishment rather than do what they did with Defoe. Whilst on the subject of consistency John Terry got 4 games for racial abuse, Suarez 8. Is there one rule for Englishmen and one for Johnny Foreigner? The whole thing stinks.
I hope he appeals and, on reflection, the FA realises their gross error of judgement; apologises publically for getting the original sentance wrong and gives him an even longer ban!
I would love Rickie to wear a shirt with velcro strips, so that every time he gets a shirt tug, parts of it peel off. Sadly he would spending most of the match sealing it up again.
I certainly hope not, but it's difficult to conclude otherwise. The FA bend their own rules to look after England players it seems.
In 1976 I got called a little Jock bastard playing for Soton Colleges v Woolston Wednesday. I`d never been so offended - I`m 5`9".
I know you are being ironic but actually they should start cracking down on it in some way. Also, all the diving and cheating that goes on. Maybe some sort of hefty ban would put a stop to it.
Never seen a footballer try and gouge an opponents eye out, though. I would suggest that deliberate injuring of opponents is more common in rugby than in football.
If the opportunity was there and they thought they could get away with it, it would happen. Goodness knows what Suarez would bite if he was at the bottom of a ruck!
Rugby is a high contact sport, and there is plenty of opportunity of accidental and deliberate flouting of the rules. For example, biting in Rugby used to be commonplace, but you never saw it happen. In comparison, Association Football is largely non-contact and the comparable opportunities are much less. I played both, by the way, though I was far better at football.
