THE dolorous note has been sounded and I fear the departure of Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz is imminent.
I was fortunate to have lived in Edmonton during the Wayne Gretzky era and can only imagine (since I live halfway around the world) what it must have been like to experience Suarez’ magic first-hand. I had hoped that he would be true to his public pronouncements about his intentions to stay a Red for the long term, but it seems that either we didn’t love him enough or he didn’t love us enough.
Some of us who have defended him through his stay with the club feel somewhat betrayed, in part because we thought that loyalty to the player would be repaid with loyalty of the player to the club. But sport is a business after all and the customer is expected to be loyal to his brand with no expectation of reciprocation.
In retrospect, perhaps we should have seen this coming.
When Luis first came to Liverpool, I must admit I was not a fan. Having watched his shameful actions in the World Cup when he denied Ghana a place in the semi-finals with the most cynical cheating in World Cup history since Maradona’s Hand of God goal, and having bitten an opponent while at Ajax, I wondered whether we should tolerate a player of such substantial ethical shortcomings.
Were we looking the other way because the man had such obvious talents? Would players of principle such as Gerrard and a club with a proud history such as Liverpool’s be able to help a villain reinvent himself as a player of whom we could all be proud? It seems not.
So what happened? As is often said of relationships nowadays, it’s complicated.
Was Suarez malicious in his confrontation with Patrice Evra? No. Did he show poor judgment? Obviously. Coupled with shrewd manipulation by Sir Slur, not only Luis but the entire Liverpool structure badly mishandled the entire episode.
I have no doubt that the (former) United gaffer had every intention of sidelining our most effective weapon and the FA colluded by handing out a disproportionate ban – but Kenny and the staff made it easy for them.
In an English environment where any excuse to react harshly to anything Liverpool is definitive, the incident brought tarnish at a time when justice seemed to have finally opened one eye concerning Hillsborough.
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On the one hand, football fans worldwide were deprived of seeing Suarez’ magic for the period of his suspension; on the other, the player himself had an opportunity to evaluate his impact on the club and the necessity of exercising control over his actions during the heat of competition.
In short, it was an opportunity to grow as a player and as a person. And the first opportunity that he had to show that the club and its image was larger than whatever ill feelings he harboured toward the Frenchman was the infamous handshake. Of course it can be argued that Evra made it difficult for an outright handshake to occur, but Suarez had the opportunity to show himself superior to Evra by ignoring the latter’s poor form…but he didn’t, and thus showed us all where his priorities lay.
It was heartening to see his response to the British press (egged on by Fergie and Tony Pulis) to the charge of being a perennial diver. Although players from Van Persie to Bale to Ashley Young have shown their propensity for simulation, Luis was vilified out of all proportion by the likes of John Champion. In response, Suarez refrained from going down easily and muted his previous displays of anguish after challenges, allowing his talent to become the new focus for many of his previous critics.
And then disaster.
In a regression to his boyhood days (I guess) he bared his teeth and, in front of innumerable television cameras, directed them at Ivanovic’s arm. By all rational standards it was a minor incident but it was Suarez and it was biting. And in a flash, all the good will that had been generated in the previous weeks and months disappeared in a collective gasp of disbelief.
You just don’t do that! It is wrong when you’re two and in a sandbox and it is wrong when you’re 26 and playing on a football pitch. It doesn’t matter that it didn’t leave a mark and it doesn’t matter that the referee issued no caution – it was silly, it was against the rules, and it was horribly selfish.
Did the FA in its subsequent decision get it right? Not by a country mile. But Suarez should never have put them into a position where their prejudices could be brought to bear on the Uruguayan. The subsequent press reaction falls into the same category, since these media lampreys are always looking for the lurid and the controversial.
Again, the press have never been kind to Luis but he has made it so easy for them to characterize him in a negative way that it would verge on negligence on their part to ignore his threadbare moral fibre.
And now we have our second world class player in a row putting in for a transfer. Despite the extraordinary lengths to which the team, the players (remember Glen Johnson’s brave defence?), and we the fans went, Luis’ ego will not allow him to stay.
I would like to think that the reason for Luis’ departure is his shoddy treatment by the press, but old age has made me cynical. Facing the option of an extension of his ban into the upcoming season or the money and prestige that comes with playing for a perennial Champions League contender, Suarez again had to choose between being honourable and looking after himself; he chose what he always chooses and will now definitely be gone by the end of summer.
Can we blame him? Like people say of modern day relationships, it’s complicated.
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Disgraceful one-sided ignorant article
You should be ashamed or yourself for writing this nonsense.
What Suarez did against Ghana , was not cheating or shameful ….it’s what any player should do. If Stevie G did that against the Mancs , you would be lauding him as a hero
Who the hell are you to be so judgemental against Suarez ? He has shown loyalty to Liverpool already , many top players would have fled this sinking ship way sooner
I love Suarez , and he not deserve to be treated like he has been by the press. And he most certainly doesnt deserve to be treated like this by his own so called fans like yourself
Your last article was ridiculous beyond belief , and this is poor and embarrassing also
if you look @ the replay he could have headed the ball but @ any rate yes anyone that’s patriotic would have done the same except the English coz their are idiots.
Anyone , on any team would have , AND SHOULD HAVE done it. It’s not cheating. It’s a deliberate foul. The same as a defender fouling the last man. Cheating is trying to deceive the referee.
It’s certainly disgraceful anyone calling that cheating , because it’s not
Well said tommo
You’re also forgetting that his ban stands even if he is transferred.
Of course. I should have realized that from the Joey Barton Ban. Thanks.
If he goes to play in another country the ban means nothing, it’s an FA ban
Not true . Get a clue
You are right, I stand corrected. I had been misinformed.
Moral bull. If your so moralistic , then where is your article condemning Liverpool for signing a drug cheat ? No ….thought not ! Hypocrite
So much to write about – so little time. 🙂
Canadian funny thing both Wayne and Luis are the same birthday and both are great players the difference is that in Uruguay we don’t have the same discipline we have here in Canada but you can’t blame Luis for changing his mind, the English media are a bunch of bone heads and so is the fa…the fa should have done things properly with the man losing a star like Luis is not to bright ….love lp from that game in the cl 3 nothing lead for the Italians and lp came back to win that was great to see…
Istanbull was a highlight of my sporting experiences. I watched the game in an English style pub in Edmonton called the Elephant and Castle (it was not available on broadcast tv)with my son and all his Liverpool supporting mates. It was pure joy in the second half and I marveled at the way that one player could lift an entire team and bring home victory. I agree that both the Fergie controlled FA and the hyena press went out of their way to vilify Suarez – it’s just unfortunate that he made it so easy for him. Thanks for the response and taking me back to Istanbull.
Mr Fritz we’ve got the best of both worlds hockey @ home and football around the world…
the fa should be fair and that will show how the birth of our great game of football was of no fluke toward the English.
my apologies for my writing.
wht he did word cup is wht evri player shud do in dat stage
1. I think the British tabloids are scum. They are in the business of scandal and to think that they would exempt a man who has injured the sacred cows of racism and biting would be delusional. And if Suarez or any of his worshipers think any different they are delusional as well.
2. What Suarez did against Ghana was wrong, not just illegal. When ‘win at any cost’ becomes a guiding principle, you have moved from support to blind support. I can’t identify with that. I love my football club but one of the reasons I do is because it is an honourable club – the most honourable in all of football from where I sit.
3. As a Canadian, I can only call it the way I see it. I find it interesting that a number of responses to articles, including my own, are not interested in debate but choose to base the validity of their position on how many names they can call both writers and responders. I mean, am I supposed to respond to “you’re an idiot and your ideas are crap” with “Your mother wears army boots and your sister’s ugly”? 😉
First thing that comes to mind in today’s LFC fans…..Bring down anyone who has their own opinion because he/she is ALWAYS wrong and i am ALWAYS right. Don’t you forget that!
I wonder why this site attracts so many clowns who can only communicate by using insults, half arsed arguments and aggression?
So, well done and keep writing Fritz, I enjoy your opinion even though I may not agree with everything. If I disagree strongly about something, I’ll put forward my side in a civil way with something which backs it up. Now that’d be a surprise on this site.
Very negative unfair article .Luis is a nice guy and has done more for Liverpool in the last 2 year’s than nearly all the others.
Perhaps because of your distance, or perhaps a lack of understanding , but you dont seem to grasp Liverpool FC or understand the ins and outs of football
Another ‘only people who live in Liverpool can be true Liverpool fans’ response. Try as you might to avoid/deny it, ‘your’ team is attracting fans from around the world who both understand the game and are able to read, watch, and learn the history of the great club.
Americans certainly dont have a clue as you consistenly show
But at least I continue to learn while comments like that do no good in attracting new fans to the club. If you think that LFC could survive or even thrive on only the support of their fans in the Liverpool area, or even the whole of the UK you are deluded. The globalization of the game requires clubs to attract fans from all over.
We could do without clueless yanks, in general, they destroy everything they touch. Greedy nation, and another thing, Liverpool fc was never about spin and all that crap, but the first thing FSG wanted to do was turn us into a reality freakshow.
suarez has been a good player for us and i know we have given him all d support he needed in time of difficulties,but i dont know y he wants to disappoint us by his disroyality.
Y is suarez issue bringing troble?D truth is dat d english fa n media hate suarez dat is y anything he does wil show much
Keep Suarez – get rid of twits like this author
Spot on lad
The main issue for the FA and the press is not just Suarez’s attitude and behavior but for whom he is playing…Liverpool. Suarez became the instant villain and target for tha press the day he tore MU apart at Old Trafford. Since than, his every action was debated. They couldn’ wait to celabrate the news that Suarez wants to leave. They are very quick to slash the odds of Liverpool finishing top four and playing in UCL. Predicting trouble in the future and failure at end of next season. Its getting clearer that the English FA and majority of the press are anti Liverpool.Welldone FA and the British press! Mission accomplished..
I couldn’t agree more. I was always convinced that Fergie was looking to hobble Liverpool by neutralizing its major attacker. I’m sure nothing would have come of the Evra affair had Sir Slur not marched the Frenchman down to the referee’s room. It was also Ferguson who started all the malarkey about Suarez being a diver when he had the likes of Ashley Young flopping all over the field.
Yawn….more conspiracy theory nonsense.
Don’t u people ever get tired of bleating out imaginary excuses ? It’s embarrassing
…always someone else to blame !!
What rubbish ! For the last 4 season’s – Liverpool have not even been a threat , why would Ferguson even care about Suarez and Liverpool ?
It’s funny how he never did this with Torres or drogba or Henry . You people need to stop with the paranoia
DROGBA & HENRY WOULD SIMPLY ACCUSE HIM OF BEING RACIST. I DNT NEED TO EXPLAIN ITS EFFECT. RAFA WLD SPIT IT BACK TO HIM IF HE DID WITH TORESS AND DONT FORGET THE SPANISH WOULD QUESTION HIS CHARACTER SHOULD HE.
nice article, am an african and even though i was angry at the way ghana lost to luis, i cldnt condem him. same/similar thing has happened against nigeria through messi but when you wear ur national jersey, would do anything to win. The probs is dat the guy sales ratings since he is world class nd too dedicated to care about controversy when he is on the pitch. There are only two other players like that but fortunately for them, they aint liverpool. cantona , cr7. YNWA
PLEASE CAN ALL FANS STOP BLAMING EVERYONE ELSE
we are starting to sound like bitters
Blame the FA
Blame the refs
Blame Ferguson
THERE ARE NO CONSPIRACIES
get over this because it’s giving Liverpool fans a terrible reputation