by Daisy Cutter
Luis Suarez is a cheat and a diver of global renown. He is also an extravagantly gifted footballer and seeing a player capable of the sublime instead opt to dramatically hurl himself to the ground can often be a source of great frustration, like Cezanne discarding his watercolours and getting out a box of crayons.
However, although these traits directly conflict on a moral scale it is perfectly possible to distinguish between the two simply because they are so vastly different. One is a man’s glory, the other his failings, and even if this were not the case surely we do not see the world in such singular fashion that we believe that a human can only be one thing alone? A burglar may be otherwise charming and help old ladies across the street. Someone who is cruel to animals might be witty and erudite, quoting Jung at dinner parties.
As Walt Whitman once said ‘I am large. I contain multitudes’ and that capacity to hold contrasting habits and thoughts, attributes and flaws, can be extended to us all.
It does not require a degree in behavioural studies to separate the light and shade of any given individual or – crucially to the point I’m attempting to make here – to identify which is being displayed at any given time.
Admittedly one may colour the other which is why some people struggle to enjoy the films of Tom Cruise due to their distrust of his views on Scientology but every man, woman and drooling simpleton knows when he is being Ethan Hunt and when he is standing at a lectern pontificating on aliens.
If this were not straightforward enough what makes it even easier to determine when Luis Suarez is being a cheat and a diver and when he is displaying his God-given talent with a ball at his feet – when he’s up to no good and when he’s being denied the opportunity to produce the goods – is the fact that the Uruguayan is so startlingly bad at the former.
When he cheats he throws out both hands volleyball-style on a goal-line to deprive Ghana of a deserved World Cup semi-final spot. When he dives it’s exaggerated to the realms of comedy, his head thrashed backwards, teeth exposed, like a mule gasping for a final breath in quicksand. There is no trace of subtlety and each whip back of his leading leg and pained freefall should be accompanied by flashing sirens such is their blatancy. Suarez is not a criminal mastermind blessed with cunning and sly deceit. His villainy is writ large in cartoon transparency.
When the temptation to err gets the better of his footballing instincts it is the true definition of the sublime to the ridiculous.
For top class referees to not be able to determine between the sublime and the ridiculous is extremely disconcerting but that is something we are witnessing with increasing regularity this season. Suarez gets bundled over, tripped or impeded and the official waves play on. Why do these injustices occur? Because – we are told at least – that the Liverpool striker’s reputation precedes him.
The explanation is offered whole. As if that somehow suffices.
Yet if a player’s reputation is now considered enough to directly effect decisions rather than simply colouring them then a match between Manchester United and Marseille would see Joey Barton sent off and Paul Scholes awarded with the man of the match champagne before a whistle has been blown. Indeed on current form Liverpool would find themselves starting each game a goal down because Reina is in the starting XI.
Why then has Luis Suerez been singled out as the sole fall guy for a new secretly-implemented draconian law that imparts judgement administered entirely on the person’s character rather than his actions?
Because that is what is happening presently. An official is not just being influenced by Suarez’s propensity to dive – an understandable consideration: he is making decisions based wholly on it, and in doing so ignoring the clear evidence to the contrary that is happening right under his nose. And that’s not just wrong. It’s disgraceful and disturbing.
At Carrow Road on Saturday the striker found himself through on goal with only John Ruddy to beat. His chasing marker Leon Barnett attempted to rectify being caught hopelessly out of position by shoving Suerez in the back before committing a virtual karate chop with his elbow for good measure. It was the kind of challenge that usually sees an empty wallet splayed on the pavement and an appeal for eyewitnesses. It was, in short, an assault.
Many times since Suarez arrived in the Premier League he has endured decisions go against him. Sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly. On each occasion he has reacted by pounding the turf in frustration like a petulant toddler demanding sweets on a supermarket floor. This time there was only a long laugh of disbelief, such was the farcical refusal of Mike Jones to point at the penalty spot.
It is hoped that the incident will be discussed in-house at the F.A. It is hoped that other top flight officials watching on Match of the Day were jolted by what they saw. Because if this persecution based on the man rather than the play is allowed to fester and continue then something fundamentally good in the game will be forever lost.
Not for the first time – but certainly with the novelty of the player being entirely the good guy – we need to talk about Luis.
A well written article. and these officials call themselves professionals. Humbug!And what are the so called assitant referees doing?
It is time that the refereees association be taken to court.
By automatically ignoring all fouls against Suarezthey are exposing him to life endangering attacks.
Liverpool lose matches. Points mean money.
The referee association has sent out a clear message that anyone can tackle Suarez without being punished
It is sick
Buntyman
You answered your own question halfway through the article.
“His reputation precedes him”. Just in the same way that Barton and Cattermole will always be thugs,United will get dodgy decisions – Suarez will always be a cheat.
I would hope that the people at the FA dont look into this and adopt the attitude that it serves him right and justice has been seen to be done.
People need to look at the World cup incident through rose tinted glasses. Imagine Suarez being England’s number 9 and him sacrificing himself against the Germans for the very same thing. Would he not be the hero he is in Uruguay? Not it is not right, and it is not fair, but we tend to have the ability to be ever so subjective about such things. Zinedine Zidane ended his career by head-butting a player, and while we were shocked, it did very little to tarnish his name. Now how would we react if it had been the French equivalent of Joey Barton who had committed the attack?
Now as a Liverpool fan, I would much prefer to not have Luis’ baggage, but I would not do without his skill. So while I understand the level of animosity he generates, I do have to take it with a pinch of salt, because I comprehend how subjective man can be, and therefore how pointless his opinion becomes, when emotions become involved.
I loathe Evra just as much as any Mancunian loathes Luis. Who is right, who is wrong?
Man is a dangerous beast to comprehend. We can start a fight in an empty room.
Off the top of my head, i’d like to see some evidence. I can remember Suarez diving once against Arsenal. However, I can rememeber Gerrard, Ashley Young and Wellbeeck diving more than once but do not have this reputation. Why is opinion formed without facts. Human nature is strange
@Steve, compare the nationalities of the players you mentioned with the nationality of Suarez. Then, consider which national teams they play for along with the league they play in, and then you will see you the opinion is formed.
I wonder when people will give up on Ghana being cheated of a “deserved” world cup semi place. The facts are thus: Ghana got a free kick they should never have been given. At least one Uruguay player was fouled in the box when the kick was taken. Suarez was sent off and a penalty was awarded. Yes, Ghana had a penalty to win the game. They missed it. justice was served but Ghana could blame nobody but themselves. Ghana should never have had the opportunity to score. Luis Suarez was in fact robbed of the opportunity to play in the semi by having to block a goalbound effort from a free that shouldn’t have been. And if it meant there was a chance your country would get to a world cup semi, you’d do it to.
Totally agree. I still can’t believe they call him a cheat for avoiding a goal on the last minute of a WC quarterfinal, getting sent-off and a penalty against. It’s ludicrous. What kind of a person would just watch the ball go in? I’d hold it, both hands, hand it over to the ref and be on my gladly. No cheating, just following the rules: you handball on the goal-line, you get sent-off plus penalty. It’s as much cheating as cynically fouling someone, holding up your hand for a throw-in when you know you were the last one to touched the ball or fake an injury to influence the ref’s decision after a foul. You know, those small incident that happens 100 times a game. Suarez is guilty of plenty of playacting, but at least he’s not lunging tackles at other players and getting away with it (Scholes anyone?). Most likely getting hurt.
Rodgers should follow Fergie’s idea of fair play and tell all their players to shout at the ref at the same time at every opportunity they can to bully him into bending over at every decision. Rage faces, flaying arms, run towards him… the whole shebang. But we really shouldn’t lower ourselves to their level.
Steve, did you manage to forget his blatant dive and subsequent getting rodwell sent off in last year’s derby. It was just one milestone, but seems reds have a sort of selective memory. I remember when Andy Johnson was at Everton: mourinho, wenger and Sir alex went after him in the press and as a result he didn’t get a decision for his last time w us. And he didn’t dive per se, he’s a small guy who took a beating in most 50/50 situations but he also lost out on a nr of certain decisions.
Can’t feel Suarez is deserving of any ‘special attention’ but if there was a ban or fine for diving or play-acting he’d definitely be one of thet top offenders. For every time he goes down rolling, howling and gesturing after a dive the very opposite of this article should appear, as from where i’m standing i can’t see how one faulty decision based on an actual foul would generate this response when he’s had countless faulty decisions in his favor from diving.
Suarez is a dirty cheat, football is a contact sport but Suarez thinks contact is an excuse to throw himself to the ground theatrically. All the stupid comments about “there was contact” how man pens do you want to see in a match? Every corner would be a penalty.
It’s time for Suarez to man up, and to only go down when he is forced down, anything else is cheating.
There are plenty of players like him, but I didn’t choose the subject. I only write the truth.
I really appreciated that article. Admittedly, I am a reds supporter but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this was really well written and tries hard to look at things from all sides of the issue. Best piece of footie journalism I’ve read in a while. Cheers!
If an official doesn’t see the foul, he’s not going to give it, but he may if the player doesn’t dive, and it seems like he’s clipped.
However, Luis exaggerates everything, and thus, he’s diving even when he is fouled, by exaggerating the motion excessively and doing himself no favours.