Many had anticipated to see an exciting clash between two of the Premier League's top clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool but fans and viewers watching on television from all around the world witnessed one of football's quirkiest and weirdest ways of expressing frustration:
Biting.
Yes, you saw that right.
Biting, the action you use to chew on your food and divide it into bite-size pieces so that you will be better able to swallow yourfood.
And yes, controversial Liverpool striker Luis Suarez did that, and once again, the Uruguay international player has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons once again.
And what's even more shocking, and mind blowing, is that it's the not the first time the temperamental player, who spends more time on the pitch complaining about poor passes and whining to no one in particular about paltry shots on goal, has bitten someone on the pitch. The first biting incident took place in November 2010.
Suarez had stormed the headlines of papers worldwide with a racist incident against Manchester United Patrick Evra that later came to dominate much of football news and almost single-handedly started a slew of racist incidents, including Evra's teammate Ferdinard who was furious with Che;sea's John Terry for insulting his brother Anton Ferdinard who players for Queen Park Rangers (QPR) in the league.
(We, here at Slime Green Plants, have written at length about the incident.)
Chelsea captain Terry was later disciplined by the Football Association (FA) and he later quit the National Team in protest of the decision. Ferdinard was later recalled back to the team but strangely enough, he turned down the offer, much to the fury of the England faithful. (Read our blog post on that -
Why Ferdinard dropped out of the England Squad) Even former international players slammed him on the decision to quit the team.
Back to the match the was played last night, there was no end to the controversy. Suarez turned from zero to hero, from hero to villain for some others. He scored the equaliser in 96th minute, questionable lengthened injury time which Chelsea's manager, and ironically former Liverpool manager,
Rafael Benitez (you can also read more about him on this blog) blamed for Chelsea's failure to win the game.
In the end, it was Suarez who initiated the apologies which he did so on his own, having personally phoned the defender he bit, Ivanonic, to apologise for his childish actions on the pitch. It was later reported that he left the stadium with Ivanovic's jersey.
Suarez also tweeted about his regrettable action, calling it 'inexcusable behaviour' and also apologised to the football world while his manager, Brendan Rogers, who claimed that he didn't see the incident, branded Suarez's queer strike weapon as 'unacceptable'.
It was later reported that the Serb defender would not press charges against Suarez but the Football Association has opened an investigation and is likely to take the matter seriously. Suarez is poised to face stiff charges and will most likely no longer feature in the remaining league games for his troubled club.
With just five games for the Reds to play in the league, will Liverpool and the Anfield faithful be ready to take on challenges when they lose Suarez to a likely ban? That remains to be seen.
Other Related Posts:
1.
Telegraph:
Luis Suarez furore prompts Prime Minister David Cameron to comment
2
. Though reported by
The Sun, this author is not sure whether the following report is true but his former foe Patrick Evra of Manchester United whom Suarez had a tiff with last year mocks the latter by biting onto a fake arm. The fake arm had been thrown from the fans and was retrieved by the French defender who could not resist poking some fun at his old friend.
Read more: Patrick Evra mocks Luis Suarez
Latest Update (April 23, 2013):
It has been reported the management of Liverpool has taken quick measures to condemn the actions of its most valuable player in the team. The Liverpool star has been fined an undisclosed sum which was then donated to the Hillsborough Family Support Group as requested by the striker himself.
It is believed that the sum slapped on Suarez is the maximum penalty of two weeks' wages and his manager Brendan Rodgers has been tasked with the arduous task of disciplining the crafty striker and keeping him in check and prevent any further incidents from happening that would tarnish the reputation of the club.
Even Suarez's sponsor, merchandise giant
Adidas, took the unusual step of speaking out against one of its players whom it sponsors. In a statement released amidst the furore in the media, it said,
"Adidas takes this type of incident very seriously and does not condone Luis Suarez's behaviour. We will be reminding him of the standards we expect from our players. Luis has admitted his actions were unacceptable and we support the way Liverpool are planning to handle the situation."
Perhaps the only hilarious happening that has emerged from this biting saga is that Suarez has gained the following of a fellow notorious celebrity,
Mike Tyson, on Twitter who has been involved in biting incidents during his career as a famed boxer.
Tyson is said to be the most famous professional athlete ever to have exacted much damage on a fellow athlete when he bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear during an intense match in 1997.
Read more: Yahoo News - Mike Tyson explains sudden interest in fellow biter
Latest Update (April 25, 2013):
The Football Association (FA) slammed a 10-match ban on Luis Suarez on improper conduct on the pitch to which the latter, along with his manager, could not believe the severity of the outcome. This means Suarez will no longer be able to play for Liverpool in a competitive match until late September, a worrying sign for Rodgers and the Liverpool management.
Not only will Liverpool's strike efforts be diminished, having lost their star player to the ban, the management at Anfield will face a difficult time persuading the Uruguayan to stay the club. He is being pursued by several top clubs in Europe including Athletico Madrid which is believed to have shortlisted him to replace Falcao who is set to leave the club by the end of the season.
The Aftermath
It turned out that Suarez did not appeal the decision and has accepted the 10-match ban because he did not want to give the 'wrong impression' about his unacceptable behaviour. He is set to miss the remaining four league games and the first six of next season, but that's if he chooses to stay with the club.
Will Suarez stay at Anfield?
What also remains to be seen is the future of the undeniably talent Luis Suarez who has much to offer on the pitch as a potent striker. He is being chased after by several top clubs but Liverpool have maintained that the striker is not up for any sale or transfer.
However, that may change given the string of controversial events that the striker has committed throughout his course of stay at Anfield. Earlier this year, he sent the sirens of the respective club recruitment centres blaring when he said he is open to any offers should any top club put up a bid for him.
Liverpool without Suarez
It came as a surprise to many when Suarez, who is serving his 10-match ban on the bench, was not needed in Liverpool's emphatic victory over Newcastle United. In their fourth last league game, Liverpool gave Newcastle United a 6 - 0 thrashing with Daniel Sturridge, Coutinho and Henderson performing well on the field to give Newcastle one of its most hurting losses.
MORE: Newcastle Manager Alex Pardew says his future is out of his hands
This came as a blow to Newcastle as they are hovering just above the relegation zone. It has been confirmed after last Saturday's league game that Premier League fans will no longer be seeing the likes of Queen Park Rangers and Reading after the match between them ended in a draw. Will top notch manager Harry Redknapp who previously led Tottenham to the top four stay with the relegated Queen Park Rangers?
MORE: QPR and Reading Share Relegation Misery
FUNNY: Cheeky kid crashes Chelsea's Europa League ceremony
