For the past couple of Barclays Premier League season, the English media has had many stories to write about regarding the negativity of one particular player, Luis Suarez. He has brought with him, from the Dutch Eridivisie, a devastating record in front of goal but also a horrible disciplinary record.
For the past couple of Barclays Premier League season, the English media has had many stories to write about regarding the negativity of one particular player, Luis Suarez. He has brought with him, from the Dutch Eridivisie, a devastating record in front of goal but also a horrible disciplinary record.
The Uruguayan is arguably one of the best strikers in the world and has the ability to win games with his brilliance, trickery and excellent touch in the penalty area. He has been a bright light for the Reds on Merseyside during a period where they have struggled to rediscover their glory days and have been out of the top four for quite some time.
After bringing a big smile to the faces of the Liverpool fans, the 26 year old then turned around and stabbed them in the back. He was fined and suspended for 8 games due to his racial abuse of Manchester United’s left back Patrice Evra. The incident took place in a match in October 2011 and Suarez was banned in December of the same year.
It was his first act of disregard for the responsibility of wearing the famous Liverpool jersey. Suarez surely knows how much the Liverpool jersey is worth and so he must set an example when he pulls on that shirt. Despite his action of irresponsibility, manager Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool fans as well as his teammates stood by him and gave him the chance to redeem himself.
The Uruguayan took this chance with both hands, setting Anfield alight with his ability, scoring goals for fun and setting up goals as well. He was once again the darling of the fans as he worked his way into being the main man in the Liverpool squad. However, it seems that controversy is never far away from the Uruguayan dazzler.
The English papers once again had Suarez on their front and back pages after he celebrated a goal against Merseyside rivals Everton by diving in front of then manager of Everton, David Moyes. Players have all the right to celebrate scoring a goal especially in a derby game but once again Suarez went a bit too far showing disrespect not only to the Everton manager but to the fans also.
Instead of taking responsibility for his actions, Suarez blamed the stories in the papers on the bias the media in England towards South Americans and other overseas players. He also stated that Manchester United controls the media in England and so he was made to look bad since he got into the altercation with Evra.
Perhaps the biggest shock and no doubt most absurd was the incident last season at Anfield against Chelsea where he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm. He was given a ten match ban for his misconduct and Liverpool sensibly didn’t appeal that ruling. This type of behaviour is just unacceptable especially for a player from a club like Liverpool, which is a club that arguably is still the biggest club in England because they have won the most major honours as an English club. The standards set by the former players who made the ‘Red Jersey’ on Merseyside one of the most respected in world football, must be held at the forefront by the players who represent the club today and certainly in the future.
After this incident Suarez still had the support of Liverpool and the fans but he took it even further. In the summer, the Uruguayan publicly stated his desire to leave Anfield in pursuit of Champions League football as well as to escape the English media. It was a sign that the Uruguayan had no regard for the club that stood by him despite all his wrongs and also a hard pill to swallow for the passionate fans in the ‘KOP.’
Liverpool took the decision that Suarez was not for sale and now he is back as he featured in the Capital One Cup match against Manchester United. He is still held in high regard by Rodgers and the squad on a whole but this shows that Liverpool as a club is making Suarez ‘bigger than the history and traditions of the club.’
In modern day football, players and agents have a lot of power because of the money that is being splashed around. Also since the ‘Bosman Ruling’ players now realize that they have a lot more power than they thought and so they try to bully their way around and put pressure on many clubs to get what they want.
A club such as Liverpool that is one of the biggest in Europe, must stand up and defend the traditions and history of the club. Suarez has disgraced the club and has tarnished the reputation of a very elite club and shouldn’t be deemed worthy of wearing the famous red shirt. The jersey is not just a shirt but it represents what the club stands for, the passion of a community and the way of life for many who goes by the saying, ‘You’ll never walk alone.’
Writer: Yashiema Love
Photo: Suarez hadling a ball (AP)
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are solely those of the writer and not the opinions of Yardie Sports.
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