WHAT A JOKE

joffmiester · #1

Giorgio Chiellini has sympathy for Luis Suarez, believing the punishment inflicted on the man who bit him is "excessive".

Uruguay striker Suarez, who sank his teeth into the shoulder of Italian defender Chiellini in the World Cup game between the two sides on Tuesday, has been given a nine-match international ban by FIFA.

Suarez will not be allowed to carry out any football-related activities for four months and was also fined £66,000.

However, Chiellini said in a statement on his official website, giorgiochiellini.com: "At the moment my only thought is for Luis and his family, because they will face a very difficult time.

"I have always considered unequivocal the disciplinary interventions by the competent bodies, but at the same time I believe that the proposed formula is excessive."

Suarez has left Uruguay's national team in Brazil and returned home to Montevideo but Chiellini says the player should have been allowed to remain with his team-mates despite the punishment.

He continued: "I sincerely hope that he will be allowed, at least, to stay close to his team-mates during the games because such a ban is really alienating for a player.

"Now inside me there are no feelings of joy, revenge or anger against Suarez for an incident that happened on the pitch and that's done. There only remains the anger and the disappointment about the match."

Meanwhile, Liverpool are working their way through the legal minefield of the four-month ban but are still a long way from even considering launching a challenge to FIFA.

The club have dismissed claims by Suarez's lawyer Alejandro Balbi that their representatives are meeting with him and the player's agent Pere Guardiola in Barcelona on Friday.

Chief executive Ian Ayre and Guardiola have a good relationship and there has always been an open line of communication between the pair - and Press Association Sport understands Ayre has been in regular contact with principal owner John Henry from the moment the incident happened.

Whether the meeting in Barcelona ultimately takes place or not - it is understood Balbi was scheduled to accompany Suarez on a flight back to Montevideo following his expulsion from the World Cup - Liverpool are still trying to assimilate all the details and implications of the punishment handed down to the Uruguay international.

Having seen no paperwork from the disciplinary hearing the club cannot yet formulate any sort of response and suggestions they are already considering a lawsuit against FIFA are wide of the mark.

Liverpool would be reluctant to take on world football's governing body and they are also keen to avoid becoming embroiled in a long, drawn-out saga through the Court of Arbitration of Sport, which would seem their most feasible course of redress.

However, no decisions have been made on how to progress as officials are still trying to ascertain the minutiae of the case in terms of things like Suarez's training regime. The FIFA ruling states he cannot be involved in any football-related activity for the duration of his suspension, which includes entering any stadia.

The Uruguayan federation (AUF) has already announced its plan to challenge the ruling.

''We are preparing our appeal now, we have three days to do it,'' said president Wilmar Valdez.

''It's an extremely excessive punishment, there was not enough evidence and I have seen more aggressive incidents recently.

''It's feels like Uruguay has been thrown out of the World Cup. We all know what Suarez means to Uruguay and to football around the world - not having Suarez would be a loss to any team.''

Suarez will miss at least 12 club games - nine Premier League matches plus three Champions League games, and potentially a Capital One Cup match too - before a return at the end of October.

The ban on football-related activity does not extend to transfers and both Barcelona and Real Madrid have reportedly not been put off by the latest development in the player's controversial career, which is why Balbi's announcement of a meeting in Spain's second city piqued interest.

But Liverpool, having backed the striker to the hilt during his two previous misdemeanours with them - the eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra and the 10-game suspension for biting Branislav Ivanovic - have no intention of selling a man who was the Premier League's leading scorer with 31 goals last season despite missing the first five games through suspension.

The financial implications are already being felt by Suarez as in addition to his fine, betting website 888poker has dropped him as its ambassador.

Long-term sponsors adidas are taking a more considered approach with a statement from the sportswear giant reading: "adidas fully supports FIFA's decision.

''adidas certainly does not condone Luis Suarez's recent behaviour and we will again be reminding him of the high standards we expect from our players.

''We will discuss all aspects of our future partnership directly with Suarez and his team following the World Cup.''

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#2

A lot of football followers saw this coming with Suarez , he just can't help himself and something not quite right with him upstairs . Disgracefull how Uruguay and Liverpool FC are trying to defend him and for Chiellini to come out with those comments is just unbelievable .

#3

I am not quite sure if the ban is excessive, - it was something like I expected to suit the crime involved.

From a totally unbuased point of view you just have to sympathise with Liverpool, it is like doing 'time' twice and in fairness this incident had crappity smack all to do with Liverpool.
Maybe a two month ban from any football and one year/two years ban from International football. After all the crime was committed in the World Cup and not the Premier League.
After all to be charged once and served your time for a crime is enough. It is as if Liverpool are the guilty paert with this punishment.
The £66,000 fine is nothing but a joke but companies are already dropping him. 888.poker being one of the first.

me · #4

he got what he deserved. Its not as if its his first time of biting some one. If it was one of us who bit some one in a pub we'd be arrested for assult or ABH and charged, if we did it again we would get an heavier sentence and if we did it a 3rd time we'd be looking at time at her maj's pleasure. Dont no why liverpool are worried about him as he will not be playing for them any more, he will be off abroad before the season starts

#5

I am not quite sure if the ban is excessive, - it was something like I expected to suit the crime involved.

From a totally unbuased point of view you just have to sympathise with Liverpool, it is like doing 'time' twice and in fairness this incident had crappity smack all to do with Liverpool.
Maybe a two month ban from any football and one year/two years ban from International football. After all the crime was committed in the World Cup and not the Premier League.
After all to be charged once and served your time for a crime is enough. It is as if Liverpool are the guilty paert with this punishment.
The £66,000 fine is nothing but a joke but companies are already dropping him. 888.poker being one of the first.

Due to the seriousness of the crime on a world stage (3rd time ) FIFA had no option but to introduce a world wide ban on the player , Liverpool FC would have been well aware of this just like they were when the same player was charged with serious racist comments ( versus man Utd ) Liverpool FC also backed "their" player then ............ something even to the most biased of football fans isn't right there with the stance of said scouse football club

#6

Dodge,

I'll vote for you as President of FIFA

VOTE FOR DODGE

It's OK Dodge, just found some different buttons to press

#7

Dodge,

I'll vote for you as President of FIFA

VOTE FOR DODGE

It's OK Dodge, just found some different buttons to press

Good work bill

FIFA possibly the most corrupt organisation on this planet but they got this one right for me

#8

Talking of a joke. A mate of mine, his wife and two daughters, both adult age went to see Man U play at home against some crappity smack. They were charged a combined cost of just under £200.
I have just enquired about a season ticket for Stoke City. The cost - £299 OAPs cost.

The first instance must be the rip-off of all rip-offs

#9

No wonder Adidas are not that bothered. If ME and many others are saying he moves elsewhere (it doesn't matter what club he goes to) overnight Adidas/Nike and any other clothing outlet crappity smack I have missed will be straight in there.
One shirt commands a price that you know better than me (I ain't a clue to be honest but I bet it is mega bucks). Now normal clothing had a huge mark up of somewhere around 1000% (I reckon it is much more than this for football gear, - you only have to look what Sports Direct sell it for and they are making a huge profit) and there could be truth in the rumour that some of the profits go towards the transfer fee.

I wouldn't point any fingers but who else would have their finger in this rather large pie. Like me you will get that in one.

VOTE FOR DODGE - you know it makes sense