As a long time Liverpool FC fan I’ve been through the ups and downs of the club over the years. Though I lost touch with the club for a while, over the last three years I’m fully involved (thank you Directv). The club appears to be in a rebuilding mode of sorts but future looks bright for next season; however, the recent actions of Luis Suarez in the 2-2 tie against Chelsea have left me shaking my head.
During the game, Suarez appeared to have bitten a Chelsea defender on the arm during a scuffle over position in front of the Chelsea goal. Although Suarez put a glancing header into the back of the net to tie the game and earn a precious point, I was left with a sour taste and trying to puzzle out why a player would bite another. I love Suarez’ grit, speed, determination, and precision but what the hell?! Biting another player?
Assuming it actually happened, I find myself trying to puzzle out why a player would lose control and think they can actually bite someone else. I felt like I was watching Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield again or perhaps swarm of younglings in a child care facility. And that is where I find myself going, childhood. There couldn’t have been any conscious thought about biting another player (surely?) so it have been an unrestrained reaction from some deep sense of … what, frustration? Perhaps something from childhood bubbled to the surface and there wasn’t enough discipline to reign it in. It’s true, Liverpool have been lackluster for the last two weeks and just experienced a flat first-half but where is the self-control, the professionalism, and the respect for the fellow players and the game?!
From where I sit, the best course of action for Suarez is unrestrained and completely unconditional apology in front of the world (shortly after a personal apology to the offended player). Suarez has to understand there is no win here. He has to get out in front of the largely forgiving court of public opinion and make some kind of amends. If he tries to play it off, to rise above it, the public, fan base, and world at large will see right through him. I hope he has the personal integrity and strength to make the right decision.