The controversial Liverpool striker’s World Cup dream looks to be in tatters after he was caught appearing to bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s Group D clash

COMMENT
By Rich Jolly

The incident had only happened a few minutes earlier when the first jokes emerged. Now he had enjoyed three meals. He liked an Italian for dinner. And so on. There is humour to be found in everything.

More than anything, though, Luis Suarez retains the capacity to shock. Even when he has bitten two other players, it is astonishing that a repeat offender should assault – and it was an assault – an opponent in the World Cup.

Suarez being Suarez, he got away with it at first. He wasn’t sent off for biting Otman Bakkal or Branislav Ivanovic either. He wasn’t dismissed for taking a mouthful of Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini either (by the by, there is something sad when a referee does not believe a player showing teeth marks in his shoulder – how else did he think Chiellini sustained them?).

But in a world of umpteen camera angles, he cannot escape justice for long. He has already incurred seven- and 10-match suspensions for biting. His latest ban should be longer, because it is evident he has not been rehabilitated. He does not seem to have felt any remorse.  

At the very least, his World Cup will be over. It would be justice for Suarez, too, if Uruguay’s were in the next round, minus their best player. Actions ought to have repercussions and, all too often, his have been disgraceful.

A Suarez storm occurs on an annual basis. In the 2010-11 season, he bit Bakkal. In 2011-12, he racially abused Patrice Evra. In 2012-13, he tasted Ivanovic. When he was voted PFA Player of the Year and Footballer of the Year for the 2013-14 season, it prompted suggestions that he had achieved redemption.

They were nonsensical. Suarez is a very fine footballer who had an outstanding year, but football excellence cannot compensate for everything else. We were told, too, that he was a changed man. As his 2013-14 campaign surely concludes in a further scandal, it is with proof that he is not.  

Suarez certainly hasn’t been helped by the apologists who blame anyone else for his every misdemeanour. Excuses have been made for his misconduct. They cannot be anymore, even by those whose love of his talent and desire for his prolific goalscoring to continue have caused them to mislay their moral compass.

If Fifa are to have any credibility, they have to issue a severe suspension. It could carry on far into the next year of international football. It might even entail a ban from all football, impacting upon his club career. His latest misdemeanour did not occur in Liverpool’s colours, but they have indulged him too often. So, judging from head coach Oscar Tabarez’s post-match comments, have Uruguay,

Suarez’s actions are made all the worse as, on each occasion, there is scant evidence of any provocation and because his cannibalistic response cannot be compared to a head-butt, a punch or a reckless tackle. It is far worse.

He needs to come to terms with what he has done. There was a slight acknowledgement at the end, as he looked almost mournful despite Uruguay’s qualification for the last 16. He was pictured holding his teeth in the final few minutes, a sign of the pain he had caused himself.

In other circumstances, it would have been vaguely comical. Here it was the sign of the most shameful moment of this World Cup.

The Uruguay coach insisted he did not see the striker’s altercation with Giorgio Chiellini and dismissed the incident, saying that there were more important things to focus on

Oscar Tabarez refused to comment on Luis Suarez’s alleged bite on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, dismissing its significance in light of Uruguay’s win.

La Celeste progressed to the knockout stages of the World Cup following a 1-0 victory in Natal with Diego Godin’s header enough to secure a vital three points in Group D.

However, the incident between Suarez and Chiellini  – in which the Liverpool star appeared to bite the defender’s shoulder – has cast a shadow over the encounter, though Tabarez showed his evident frustration at the multiple questions he was asked on the matter.

“I want to see the pictures, I have not seen the incident and I think the referee did not see it,” the 67-year-old told a press conference.

“For me and for all Uruguayans there were more important things in this game. Perhaps [Suarez] made mistakes, however, it is the goal for some to write about him: you just have to focus on when he is on the field and play. Instead, there is a clear animosity towards this player.

“I do not want to comment. Suarez for us it is a very important player, even as a person for the whole group: we’ll see if that will be attacked, like I feel we are doing at this press conference, and we’ll see how to defend it.

“This is a World Cup, not a time for cheap morality.”

Uruguay are now looking to emulate their fourth-placed finish in the previous World Cup in South Africa and Tabarez spoke of his immense pride at still being in the competition.

“We tried to put in all the effort possible,” he continued.

“We changed our positioning on the field, trying to counter the strengths of Italy in the middle of the field and the game of [Andrea] Pirlo. Versatility is one of our virtues.

“When [Claudio] Marchisio was sent off, we tried to put more pressure on the Azzurri and we were lucky enough to win. Prior to the England game we never would have dreamed of qualifying.

“At the time of the goal I felt something pop in my chest. The Uruguayans never lose the feelings that we have as children, it is difficult to explain with words, but I felt the need to embrace anyone beside me the same time.”

The England skipper was thought to be ready to end his Three Lions career following the side’s early World Cup exit, but he will not make a final call until after the summer

England captain Steven Gerrard has denied he will retire from international football after Thursday’s World Cup clash with Costa Rica, though admits he will consider his Three Lions future.

The Liverpool midfielder was criticised for his performances in successive 2-1 defeats against Italy and Uruguay, with England crashing out of the showpiece, but the 34-year-old is not resigned to hanging up his international boots just yet.

“There’s no truth that I will be making any announcement within a week,” he told reporters.

“I think I need more time than that. I spoke to the manager this morning and will wait until after the summer.

“I’m hurting very badly. I’m still feeling broken from what’s happened. I need to get away on holiday and having a break before making that decision.

“I don’t have a hunch. I will speak to the manager in a few weeks time and numerous other people who I respect. It’s a big decision and I will make it in due course.

“It’s a difficult time to be an England player, everybody is hurting. Thanks to the fans for the support. The players take full responsibility on our shoulders. All we can do as players is stick together.

“We can’t allow it to go on the manager’s shoulders. We have to stand tall and be thick-skinned.

“It’s very difficult to fight those opinions [of a lack of world-class English talent] but I think we have got world-class players here and potential world-class players too.

“My argument won’t be proven right until it’s been shown at this level. I understand people all over the country will have different opinions. I’m not in a position to fight negative assertions at the moment.”

Gerrard has made 113 appearances for his country, ranking him behind Peter Shilton (125) and David Beckham (115) as England’s all-time third most capped player, while only four players have worn the skipper’s armband for England on more occasions.