Luis Suarez

[Dion 2,476]

No, and no. Intentional violent tackle is not what football is about. Take the Aguero/Luiz incident two seasons ago. Thats definitely not what you should expect to see on the pitch. You are basically saying if the agressor using his foot in FOOTball, its more acceptable than using his teeth. I can't accept that. I agree, bitting is totally out of place, but again, I said he deserved the punishment, I'm just saying FIFA just went too far, specially with the 4 month ban, and taking out his WC credentials and treating him like a criminal.

Its not the only problem here. What was the criterion used to punish him? Who punished him? Why 9 games and not 10? Why 4 months and not 3, 5, 6, or even 1 year?

Punishment with no rules to regulate the punitive power is always some kind of authoritarianism.

His football activity ban is totally out of place. FIFA should only ban players from international duties. His aggression happened in a WC. Why he should be banned from club competition? Competitions that FIFA is not involved?

But in the last sentence you said FIFA should obligate Suarez to see some psychiatrist. It seems you love an authoritarianism, just like most part of Brazilians.

Using his foot is also unacceptable. But in the scale of unacceptable things, it is lower than biting. Unless we're talking about kicking someone with no ball involved, then it is about the same. But I was talking about those cases when a players is already doing a sliding tackle, for example, and when he notices he won't reach the ball, he hits the other player "just because". His first motive was legit, but frustration with the game or for not being able to reach the ball with that tackle made him decide to hit the opponent. That's one thing. Most violent plays we see fall into that, tackles, elbowing, you name it. His bitings incidents are totally different. He wasn't challenging for the ball in any of them, they were gratuitous aggressions, totally uncalled for. In addition, he chose to do it in the most bizarre and out of the place way he could find, which makes everything even more shocking. As a law student or lawyer yourself you should know that the means you choose to commit a crime and the circumstances are taken in consideration too. It's not only about potential damage. It also matters whether it is your first incident or your third, fourth... And you also know when someone behaves in a manner one would question his sanity, he should undergo some sort of psychiatric evaluation. It is not authoritarianism, he brought it upon himself. He should be only allowed after being cleared from a psychiatrist in order to protect other players. Who's to know when will he attack again. The part where you question why 9 and not 10, why 4 months and not 6, I agree with. However that is not exclusive to Suarez, that could have been asked in many other cases. Punishment in football seems to be chosen with a heavy dose of subjectivity, unfortunately. I think how they sentenced Suarez was reasonable though. By the way, he IS sort of a criminal for biting people.

[Madmax 9,219]

He certainly deserves a ban, but I still find it ironic that he gets 4 months, while players who literally and intentionally break the leg/knee/ankle of a colleague get a couple/handful of matches.

There is no way anyone can go about establishing intention when it comes to leg-breaking tackles.

[Dion 2,476]

Even Chielini, the victim, is saying the punishment is excessive.

Maybe he was so psychologically damaged by the bite that he's got Stockholm syndrome

[robsblubot 3,502]

There is no way anyone can go about establishing intention when it comes to leg-breaking tackles.

disagree, esp after the match when people can watch video replays with cool heads.

these types of tackles are as intentional as it gets: (replay shows the over-the-ball intention)

http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/50096207473/kweuke-delivers-brutal-leg-breaking-tackle

Roy Keane, Witsel, Shawcross... yes, it's a moment of madness, but it's still intentional: in that brief moment they want to injure the other player.

[Dion 2,476]

disagree, esp after the match when people can watch video replays with cool heads.

these types of tackles are as intentional as it gets: (replay shows the over-the-ball intention)

http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/50096207473/kweuke-delivers-brutal-leg-breaking-tackle

Roy Keane, Witsel, Shawcross... yes, it's a moment of madness, but it's still intentional: in that brief moment they want to injure the other player.

I think he meant you can't say the player wanted to break the other player's leg, per say. He wanted to hit him, that's for sure, but how much damage did he expect/intend to do? That's hard to know. Still should be punished, don't get me wrong. If you are taking the risk of breaking someone's leg by yourself you should see heavy punishment, even if what you had in mind was some bruises and scratches.

[lucio 5,418]

disagree, esp after the match when people can watch video replays with cool heads.

these types of tackles are as intentional as it gets: (replay shows the over-the-ball intention)

http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/50096207473/kweuke-delivers-brutal-leg-breaking-tackle

Roy Keane, Witsel, Shawcross... yes, it's a moment of madness, but it's still intentional: in that brief moment they want to injure the other player.

thats just mindless aggression. not ghoulish behaviour

[Rom2013 446]

disagree, esp after the match when people can watch video replays with cool heads.

these types of tackles are as intentional as it gets: (replay shows the over-the-ball intention)

http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/50096207473/kweuke-delivers-brutal-leg-breaking-tackle

Roy Keane, Witsel, Shawcross... yes, it's a moment of madness, but it's still intentional: in that brief moment they want to injure the other player.

That's really bad but that's a normal situation in football... anyway I think he will be out for a good time. He had no intention to break the leg of the other player that's a normal reaction.

Figo also destroyed the carreer of the player Cesar Jimenez 10 years ago. Things like this happen:

One thing is a normal moment of the game, other thing is what Pepe did to Casquero, or Keane to Haland, or Suarez for the third time. That's assualt and yes out of a football pitch can be a crime.

[lucio 5,418]

That's really bad but that's a normal situation in football... anyway I think he will be out for a good time. He had no intention to break the leg of the other player that's a normal reaction.

Figo also destroyed the carreer of the player Cesar Jimenez 10 years ago. Things like this happen:

One thing is a normal moment of the game, other thing is what Pepe did to Caquero, or Keane to Haland, or Suarez for the third time. That's assualt and yes out of a football pitch can be a crime.

the recent pepe headbutt on muller? that could technically be an assault. but it was really nothing.

[Rom2013 446]

the recent pepe headbutt on muller? that could technically be an assault. but it was really nothing.

You are joking for sure.

[lucio 5,418]

You are joking for sure.

no. he lent in with his head. no chance of hurting anyone. definite red card. no more. mullers reacton was embarrassing.

now this is a proper pepe assault.

[Rom2013 446]

no. he lent in with his head. no chance of hurting anyone. definite red card. no more. mullers reacton was embarrassing.

now this is a proper pepe assault.

And that's the situation I said , and Pepe had a 10 games suspension for that. That's not normal. And the next time he does something as stupid as this he is "dead".

And Pepe has a bad reputation because of that, and deserved, but in 10 years I can't remember one single injury he caused to another player.

This situation is a lot worst than the one Figo or the other player did... and had no consequences for Casquero. Many times it's more important the action than te consequeces of that action.

[lucio 5,418]

And that's the situation I said , and Pepe had a 10 games suspension for that. That's not normal. And the next time he does something as stupid as this he is "dead".

sorry i misread.

[robsblubot 3,502]

That's really bad but that's a normal situation in football... anyway I think he will be out for a good time. He had no intention to break the leg of the other player that's a normal reaction.

Figo also destroyed the carreer of the player Cesar Jimenez 10 years ago. Things like this happen:

One thing is a normal moment of the game, other thing is what Pepe did to Casquero, or Keane to Haland, or Suarez for the third time. That's assualt and yes out of a football pitch can be a crime.

Just for the record, I don't really understand why "a normal situation" is better than an abnormal as a rule. People get shot every day... School shooting are becoming normal in the US.. just as an example, even if a horrific one.

The most important aspect is the consequence of the act. Myself, many professional players, and coaches believe the act itself, although silly, even ridiculous, and fully deserved of suspension, is no worse than many other things that happen on the pitch, and are considered "normal."

Ask any player in a match whether they'd rather let Suarez have a bite at them , or pick up a serious injury and I reckon they'd all pick the former.

[iseah100 5,612]

Just for the record, I don't really understand why "a normal situation" is better than an abnormal as a rule. People get shot every day... School shooting are becoming normal in the US.. just as an example, even if a horrific one.

The most important aspect is the consequence of the act. Myself, many professional players, and coaches believe the act itself, although silly, even ridiculous, and fully deserved of suspension, is no worse than many other things that happen on the pitch, and are considered "normal."

Ask any player in a match whether they'd rather let Suarez have a bite at them , or pick up a serious injury and I reckon they'd all pick the former.

It doesn't have to do with damage caused. It has to do with sportsmanship and the fact that biting someone isn't something a grown man should do.

[Cosmin 2,484]

He was fined by FA. FIFA has nothing to do with his behavior in Premier League.

I don't understand what you're trying to say. It's not like Suarez is a completely different person when he plays for Uruguay. He's the same guy that bit two players in the past. It doesn't matter who juges him, FIFA or the FA, his past still matters.

[Dion 2,476]

Just for the record, I don't really understand why "a normal situation" is better than an abnormal as a rule. People get shot every day... School shooting are becoming normal in the US.. just as an example, even if a horrific one.

The most important aspect is the consequence of the act. Myself, many professional players, and coaches believe the act itself, although silly, even ridiculous, and fully deserved of suspension, is no worse than many other things that happen on the pitch, and are considered "normal."

Ask any player in a match whether they'd rather let Suarez have a bite at them , or pick up a serious injury and I reckon they'd all pick the former.

I reckon Evander Holyfield would choose some broken bone

[iseah100 5,612]

[robsblubot 3,502]

It doesn't have to do with damage caused. It has to do with sportsmanship and the fact that biting someone isn't something a grown man should do.

Completely understandable and no denying that.

I'm not discussing the need of punishment, but how proportional it is when severity of the act is considered. There are far worst things that happen on the pitch than a bite, however ridiculous and abnormal that may be.

Wasn't Brazil Leonardo, a model professional until then, who destroyed the face of an USA player in 94 WC with a thrown elbow? He got 4 games ban.

Chiellini and Ivanovic smile and shake their heads, but that's about it.