Paul Scholes believes a 10-match ban or a suspension for the remainder of the World Cup would not be sufficient punishment for Luis Suárez after the latest biting allegations – while Robbie Fowler believes Liverpool may be forced to sell their Uruguay striker.
The Guardian Online
Suárez, twice punished for biting earlier in his career, appeared to bite the Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s defeat of Italy on Tuesday.
The former Manchester United midfielder Scholes said that the 10-game ban Suárez was given for biting Branislav Ivanovic in April 2013 “obviously wasn’t enough”.
“Suárez embarrassed his club, country and family,” Scholes told paddypower.com. “Banning him for the rest of the World Cup is not enough, because Colombia will beat Uruguay in their next game anyway.
“He will feel terrible, and the entire incident is such a shame because he’s a tremendous player. But people will remember Suárez now for his biting antics at this World Cup rather than his supreme footballing ability.”
The former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler, meanwhile, thinks the club may now have to sell.
“You can’t defend him,” Fowler told Talksport. “Off the pitch he’s an absolutely lovely fella. He does so much work for charity, does so much work in the community in Liverpool. And I love him as a player, but you cannot condone what he has done.
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“When he gets on the pitch he just becomes a different person. I’m flummoxed for words. It’s a real, real tough predicament most Liverpool fans are in. They love him as a player, but he’s continually dragging the club’s name through the mud. It’s not right, especially after how they helped him last time. They tried to rehabilitate him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went now.”
Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, said he fears for the Uruguayan’s career. Taylor, who worked with Suárez during previous incidents, told Radio 5 Live: “It was just so disappointing, really.
“Last season I thought he’d got himself back on track. We felt these were issues he had and offered counselling with regard to anger management. We’ve seen the best of him and that other side in just two games over in Brazil.
“Issues with regard to biting are something not normally associated with senior players in the game. It can’t be acceptable and from that point of view there are serious issues to be dealt with and they’re health issues, counselling issues, mental health issues. He certainly needs that to try to eradicate this from his make-up, otherwise I fear for his career.”
Joey Barton, though, suggested Suárez’s apparent bite is something which “comes with the territory” of being a winner.
He tweeted: “I love Suárez. I love his passion for the game. I would have him on my team every day of the week. I am also aware you can’t defend him here.
“All things considered I’d rather receive a bite than a leg-breaking challenge. Whilst he should be punished, it is not the end of the world. He’s a winner. If that means he occasionally steps over the line between right and wrong, than that’s what comes with the territory … Nobody’s perfect.”
Gambling firm 888poker, meanwhile, announced they are “reviewing” their relationship with Suárez, who is currently their brand ambassador.
