Can football forgive Luis Suarez for the third time?
In case you missed it, the mischievous Uruguayan striker took a bite out of Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder. And he has history: once for Ajax in November 2010, again in April 2013 when playing for Liverpool and then once more today.
Let me state that I am a Liverpool fan and a huge admirer of Suarez. I think, like many others, that he is a hugely talented player, one of the best in the world, and who is capable of propelling a side to Champions League qualification and almost to winning the Premier League.
Many footballers have issues, and often the best ones are the most scrutinised which certainly doesn't help. Take, for example, Paul Gascoigne, John Terry, Joey Barton. The list could go on. The footballing world is shocked by their behaviour both on and off the field, yet they have all had differing misdemeanours pardoned.
Suarez's problem is the simple fact that he hasn't learnt from his mistakes and has repeated his offense.
So where does he go from here?
Well, to start with a huge ban will be facing him. Some have called for him never to play international football again but this seems exaggerated. And Fifa couldn't impose a ban that would affect his club career - that would unjustly punish Liverpool who have had no hand in this. A large fine won't solve much considering he earns a six-figure salary each week! A rehabilitation programme might. Potential moves to Barcelona or Real Madrid may now have been scuppered, with these top sides not wanting their brands tarnished by his murky past.
What will be harder to put right is the inevitable lack of respect for him that will ensue. No longer will on-field actions suffice to earn fans' and other players' appreciation and reverence.
After his 10 match ban which spanned the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, Suarez won the PFA Player's Player of the Year award. Even if he nets 40 goals and Liverpool win the title, I can't see that being repeated after this evening's incident.
Maybe he should have his teeth taken out, and get a sturdy set of dentures for use only off the pitch!
What We Learnt Today
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Monday 23 June 2014
Fifa World Cup - Superstars, Messi, Ronaldo and last minute wonders
This fascinating World Cup just keeps on giving and giving and giving!
With big upsets, close encounters, heavy thrashings and underdog stories, what more could you ask for?
Recent games have shown two things: the old adage that giving 110% really does make a difference and take you far, however you can't underestimate the value of having a world-beating superstar in your lineup.
Let's look at the Argentina v Iran and USA v Portugal games.
Argentina's glittering side of match winners, millionaires and household names was expected to crush the hardworking but less talented Iran team. The Middle Eastern side fought until the end, but faced with three-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, they could not stop a final moment of brilliance from him in added time.
Pundits were predicting a more evenly matched tie between the States and Portugal. It's fair to say, though, that few thought that the Americans would be winning with 90 seconds of additional time left on the clock. The USA in this situation did not bargain for last gasp heroics from the world's second most expensive player. Cometh the hour (or rather the 94th minute) cometh the man. An ineffectual and demonstrably unfit Ronaldo stepped up to deliver a wonderful, pinpoint cross which Silvestre Varela duly converted to keep his country alive in the group.
USA gave everything and produced a fabulous display that rightly made manager Jurgen Klinsmann proud, but their immense effort and togetherness was undone at the end by their naivety in possession and inspiration from the genius right boot of Portugal's number 7.
Maybe a superstar is what England lack, despite their strong squad of players, and would have made a difference between 2-1 losses and progressing further in Brazil.
With big upsets, close encounters, heavy thrashings and underdog stories, what more could you ask for?
Recent games have shown two things: the old adage that giving 110% really does make a difference and take you far, however you can't underestimate the value of having a world-beating superstar in your lineup.
Let's look at the Argentina v Iran and USA v Portugal games.
Argentina's glittering side of match winners, millionaires and household names was expected to crush the hardworking but less talented Iran team. The Middle Eastern side fought until the end, but faced with three-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, they could not stop a final moment of brilliance from him in added time.
Pundits were predicting a more evenly matched tie between the States and Portugal. It's fair to say, though, that few thought that the Americans would be winning with 90 seconds of additional time left on the clock. The USA in this situation did not bargain for last gasp heroics from the world's second most expensive player. Cometh the hour (or rather the 94th minute) cometh the man. An ineffectual and demonstrably unfit Ronaldo stepped up to deliver a wonderful, pinpoint cross which Silvestre Varela duly converted to keep his country alive in the group.
USA gave everything and produced a fabulous display that rightly made manager Jurgen Klinsmann proud, but their immense effort and togetherness was undone at the end by their naivety in possession and inspiration from the genius right boot of Portugal's number 7.
Maybe a superstar is what England lack, despite their strong squad of players, and would have made a difference between 2-1 losses and progressing further in Brazil.
Sunday 8 June 2014
Dirty Olympics?
Today the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro announced that the bay where sailing will take place in the 2016 Summer Olympics will not be cleaned as once promised. Guanabara Bay, one of the world's most iconic expanses of water, suffers from a serious pollution problem despite its paradisiacal appearance on holiday brochures and tourism websites.
A cleaner area of the bay will play host to the races in just over two years, and Mr Paes has reassured athletes that they will face no risk in competing there. Beautiful beaches surround the bay, yet people are warned against bathing in the water because of the high levels of pollution. Search for Guanabara Bay in Google images and the engine kindly offers 'Guanabara Bay pollution' as a related search.
The bay is often compared to a sewer, and the Brazilian government's failure to completely clean it up will appall foreigners but will come as no surprise to the 10 million inhabitants of the metropolis.
It begs the questions of where the government's priorities lie. With the World Cup starting in Brazil in a matter of days, the pressure has been on to build stadiums and infrastructure as well as dealing with nationwide social issues. The tidying up and clearing out of dirt and crime ridden favelas has garnered much attention, maybe to the detriment of the environment. The International Olympic Committee does have a history of this; the situation brings back memories of Beijing 2008 and the controversy around the city's terrible smog problem.
What's more, the IOC's seemingly benevolent motives for bringing the Olympic Games to Rio are now even being called into question...
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-27752499
A cleaner area of the bay will play host to the races in just over two years, and Mr Paes has reassured athletes that they will face no risk in competing there. Beautiful beaches surround the bay, yet people are warned against bathing in the water because of the high levels of pollution. Search for Guanabara Bay in Google images and the engine kindly offers 'Guanabara Bay pollution' as a related search.
The bay is often compared to a sewer, and the Brazilian government's failure to completely clean it up will appall foreigners but will come as no surprise to the 10 million inhabitants of the metropolis.
It begs the questions of where the government's priorities lie. With the World Cup starting in Brazil in a matter of days, the pressure has been on to build stadiums and infrastructure as well as dealing with nationwide social issues. The tidying up and clearing out of dirt and crime ridden favelas has garnered much attention, maybe to the detriment of the environment. The International Olympic Committee does have a history of this; the situation brings back memories of Beijing 2008 and the controversy around the city's terrible smog problem.
What's more, the IOC's seemingly benevolent motives for bringing the Olympic Games to Rio are now even being called into question...
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-27752499
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