Liverpool striker Luis Suarez deserves great credit for the positive transformation in his on-field attitude over the last year. It's clear he's tried hard to cut out the gamesmanship/cheating, but in football terms, is he really a changed man? Based on his latest comments, the answer has to be a resounding 'NO'.
Four years after his deplorable handball in the World Cup quarter final against Ghana, Suarez remains pigheadedly unrepentant about his blatant cheating.
Speaking to reporters this week, Suarez continued to perpetuate the spurious myth (endlessly regurgitated by fawning, enabling LFC fans) that he 'sacrificed' himself for the team.
"I didn't do anything wrong. I sacrificed playing in a World Cup semi-final for my team-mates. I didn't injure anyone. It's not something to feel bad about"
Then, in a breathtaking display of self-deception, Suarez illustrated his total lack of self-awareness by claiming that he sees himself as a shining light for young, impressionable football fans:
“I think I have been a role model since last summer. I have been professional and I have this desire to forge ahead and play well regardless of what is said to me"
The mind boggles, it really does. Suarez is NOT a role model in any way, shape or form. A 'role-model' does not endlessly defend cheating in public, and refuse to accept that a cynical, deliberate handball on the line in a World Cup quarter-final is wrong.
And it's not the first time Suarez has brazenly defending his cheating. After Uruguay made it into the World Cup semi-final, he offered following gloating, remorseless post-match statement:
"The Hand of God now belongs to me. I made the best save of the tournament. Sometimes in training I play as a goalkeeper so it was worth it. There was no alternative but for me to do that and when they missed the penalty I thought 'It is a miracle and we are alive in the tournament'.
Prior to Liverpool's 2012 FA Cup semi-final with Everton, Suarez told ESPN:
"I am dedicated to the team. If I am obliged to stop a ball in the last minute and we win, then I will repeat the action [the Ghana handball]"
And this is a 'role model'? Any young, impressionable mind reading Suarez's comments will conclude that it's okay to cheat; that gamesmanship and deliberately breaking the 'rules' is okay, and any act of cheating should be seen as a 'sacrifice' for the team.
It's sickening, and reckless 'role models' like Suarez are responsible for turning football into a cesspool of cheating and corruption. His vacuous comments poison the minds of impressionable young fans, and this - combined with the inexcusable acceptance by older fans - perpetuates the neverending cycle of cheating and gamesmanship.
It's not only Suarez. Speaking to The Telegraph in March, his team-mate, Diego Forlan, hailed Suarez as a 'warrior', and praised the Uruguayan's handball against Ghana. He notedL
"He [Suarez] handled the ball on the line. He did it for the team and the world saw it. When the referee showed the red card, Suarez looked at him innocently and asked: 'Me?'. He knew it was him, but there was a 0.1 per cent chance that the referee might not. Suarez took that chance. I realise not everyone agrees with that 'win at any price' attitude, but to us in Uruguay he's a hero".
No wonder football is in the gutter with ignorant, out-of-touch players like Forlan actively encouraging and enabling cheating. Is this what Forlan plans to teach his own children? Lie and cheat to get ahead! Who cares, as long as you gain an advantage!
In what perverse universe is someone a 'hero' for deliberately cheating, and then lying about it to the referee? It's a diseased mindset, which provides weak-minded fans with the subconscious justification they need to defend Suarez's cheating. And it IS cheating, which is defined by the Oxford dictionary as follows:
"To gain an advantage over and/or deprive of something by using unfair or deceitful methods"
The typical fan excuse is that Suarez merely broke the rules (!), but in the grand scheme of things, it is cheating, irrespective of what the (narrow and localised) football guidelines state. Suarez deliberately tried to gain an advantage using unfair and deceitful methods, ergo it is cheating. End of story.
Whilst Suarez's comments are clearly unacceptable, the reprehensible enablement that allows cheats to prosper is the biggest cancer of the modern game.
All across the world, fans brazenly celebrate the corrupt mentality of football, and encourage the wilful perversion of fair-play, which promotes a debased 'win at all costs' attitude. Just look at the Thomas Muller cheating incident against Portugal; another nail in the coffin of football fair-play, and German fans deify him for it, whilst enabling pundits like Patrick Vieira refuse to condemn it.
The sad irony of it all is that these same 'fans' don't even seem to realise that they're complicit in destroying the game they loudly proclaim to 'love', and Liverpool fans are no different.
In this case, it doesn't matter how many times Suarez admits that he's an unrepentant cheat, Reds fans will still find some way to defend, condone, and enable his behaviour, and that (IMO) is the biggest abomination of all.
Zero tolerance on cheating is one of the founding principles of this site. There has to be someone out there flying the flag for fair-play, and there has to be a voice for fans who, like me, unquestioningly oppose the destructive rise of cheating in football.
This article will no doubt upset the many Suarez-apologists amongst LFC's fanbase, but I don't care in the slightest about that. In fact, I hope those fans who enable Suarez's cheating feel attacked. They deserve it for betraying the club they claim to support.
Suarez is an absolutely amazing footballer, and I love watching him play, but I support Liverpool FC, not Luis Suarez FC, and the Uruguayan's constant attempts to rationalise cheating brings LFC into disrepute, and totally undermines everything the club stands for.
Author: Jaimie K
Four years after his deplorable handball in the World Cup quarter final against Ghana, Suarez remains pigheadedly unrepentant about his blatant cheating.
Speaking to reporters this week, Suarez continued to perpetuate the spurious myth (endlessly regurgitated by fawning, enabling LFC fans) that he 'sacrificed' himself for the team.
"I didn't do anything wrong. I sacrificed playing in a World Cup semi-final for my team-mates. I didn't injure anyone. It's not something to feel bad about"
Then, in a breathtaking display of self-deception, Suarez illustrated his total lack of self-awareness by claiming that he sees himself as a shining light for young, impressionable football fans:
“I think I have been a role model since last summer. I have been professional and I have this desire to forge ahead and play well regardless of what is said to me"
The mind boggles, it really does. Suarez is NOT a role model in any way, shape or form. A 'role-model' does not endlessly defend cheating in public, and refuse to accept that a cynical, deliberate handball on the line in a World Cup quarter-final is wrong.
And it's not the first time Suarez has brazenly defending his cheating. After Uruguay made it into the World Cup semi-final, he offered following gloating, remorseless post-match statement:
"The Hand of God now belongs to me. I made the best save of the tournament. Sometimes in training I play as a goalkeeper so it was worth it. There was no alternative but for me to do that and when they missed the penalty I thought 'It is a miracle and we are alive in the tournament'.
Prior to Liverpool's 2012 FA Cup semi-final with Everton, Suarez told ESPN:
"I am dedicated to the team. If I am obliged to stop a ball in the last minute and we win, then I will repeat the action [the Ghana handball]"
And this is a 'role model'? Any young, impressionable mind reading Suarez's comments will conclude that it's okay to cheat; that gamesmanship and deliberately breaking the 'rules' is okay, and any act of cheating should be seen as a 'sacrifice' for the team.
It's sickening, and reckless 'role models' like Suarez are responsible for turning football into a cesspool of cheating and corruption. His vacuous comments poison the minds of impressionable young fans, and this - combined with the inexcusable acceptance by older fans - perpetuates the neverending cycle of cheating and gamesmanship.
It's not only Suarez. Speaking to The Telegraph in March, his team-mate, Diego Forlan, hailed Suarez as a 'warrior', and praised the Uruguayan's handball against Ghana. He notedL
"He [Suarez] handled the ball on the line. He did it for the team and the world saw it. When the referee showed the red card, Suarez looked at him innocently and asked: 'Me?'. He knew it was him, but there was a 0.1 per cent chance that the referee might not. Suarez took that chance. I realise not everyone agrees with that 'win at any price' attitude, but to us in Uruguay he's a hero".
No wonder football is in the gutter with ignorant, out-of-touch players like Forlan actively encouraging and enabling cheating. Is this what Forlan plans to teach his own children? Lie and cheat to get ahead! Who cares, as long as you gain an advantage!
In what perverse universe is someone a 'hero' for deliberately cheating, and then lying about it to the referee? It's a diseased mindset, which provides weak-minded fans with the subconscious justification they need to defend Suarez's cheating. And it IS cheating, which is defined by the Oxford dictionary as follows:
"To gain an advantage over and/or deprive of something by using unfair or deceitful methods"
The typical fan excuse is that Suarez merely broke the rules (!), but in the grand scheme of things, it is cheating, irrespective of what the (narrow and localised) football guidelines state. Suarez deliberately tried to gain an advantage using unfair and deceitful methods, ergo it is cheating. End of story.
Whilst Suarez's comments are clearly unacceptable, the reprehensible enablement that allows cheats to prosper is the biggest cancer of the modern game.
All across the world, fans brazenly celebrate the corrupt mentality of football, and encourage the wilful perversion of fair-play, which promotes a debased 'win at all costs' attitude. Just look at the Thomas Muller cheating incident against Portugal; another nail in the coffin of football fair-play, and German fans deify him for it, whilst enabling pundits like Patrick Vieira refuse to condemn it.
The sad irony of it all is that these same 'fans' don't even seem to realise that they're complicit in destroying the game they loudly proclaim to 'love', and Liverpool fans are no different.
In this case, it doesn't matter how many times Suarez admits that he's an unrepentant cheat, Reds fans will still find some way to defend, condone, and enable his behaviour, and that (IMO) is the biggest abomination of all.
Zero tolerance on cheating is one of the founding principles of this site. There has to be someone out there flying the flag for fair-play, and there has to be a voice for fans who, like me, unquestioningly oppose the destructive rise of cheating in football.
This article will no doubt upset the many Suarez-apologists amongst LFC's fanbase, but I don't care in the slightest about that. In fact, I hope those fans who enable Suarez's cheating feel attacked. They deserve it for betraying the club they claim to support.
Suarez is an absolutely amazing footballer, and I love watching him play, but I support Liverpool FC, not Luis Suarez FC, and the Uruguayan's constant attempts to rationalise cheating brings LFC into disrepute, and totally undermines everything the club stands for.
Author: Jaimie K
Small boys in the park. Jumpers for goalposts. Isn't it? Wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteThere is a lesson to be learned here. If JK has an opinion, and you don't change yours to match his, you're wrong :-)
ReplyDeleteA handball is not cheating Jamie....its part of the game. A penalty was given and they failed to score it....Suarez got sent off for that handball.....your comments are just sentimental because u wanted Ghana to win the game.
ReplyDeleteJK...if Suarez had handled the ball in that way to score a goal to win Liverpool the League (not that I am advocating it), would you be so indignant about it?
ReplyDeleteYou are part of the problem. Another fan who makes excuses to condone cheating.
ReplyDeleteAs long as people can get away with it, they will always bend and break the rules. Its a sad, but unfortunately its true.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, Suarez only missed out on a little football because of his actions. There just wasn't any major consequence to what he did. That's the problem.
We saw it cropping up again with Muller yesterday.
Action needs to be taken from the top, to stop players doing it.
If in Suarez's case, the punishment for his action was -1 goal. Players would soon stop doing it.
Players committed a foul so that his teammates can back on time to defend they called " professional foul " they got yellow card for that if they are not last man ... but why we can accept this as a professional foul but we cant accept his ??? What's the different between these two ?? he got sent off which was punished and awarded a penalty .. in some sport we call it tactic or strategy move .. the penalty missed is not his fault anyway.. i am just wonder ;)
ReplyDeleteBy your same logic, a professional foul is also cheating
ReplyDeleteHere we go again :p
ReplyDeleteWho accepts professional fouls. I certainly don't; do you? Again, this is another example of trying to muddy the waters, and deflect the focus away from the point.
ReplyDeleteThere will be dozens on such attempts on this thread, I'm sure.
Kanwar you are a joke. You'll probably delete this becuase i dont agree with your opinion but you need told sometimes that you are wrong. He did what he had to do to save his team and gave up a chance to play in a semi final. Hardly a disgrace. Hate your "I'm always right" view on everything. You shoyld support another team instead of constantly slating our best player.
ReplyDeleteBet you delete this too lol
ReplyDeleteboring !!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI saw an article the other day on some website or other where the author suggested he would be amused if England were knocked out of the WC by a piece of Suarez cheating.
ReplyDeleteAll the while people can find amusement in cheating the problem will only get worse imo
RE your last paragraph, I don't think his actions - I'm talking handball here, do reflect badly on the club, because people just don't care.
ReplyDeleteYou constantly see pundits talking about 'taking on for the team' or the 'professional foul' that's just how its seen.
Its not right, but that's the way it is.
Are you serious?
ReplyDeleteThat would be even worse, and I've made that point a million times. I don't want LFC players cheating to gain advantage for the team. That's the worst of the worst, yet so many fans are happy to accept cheating if it gives LFC an advantage.
It's a cancerous state of affairs. I don't take any pleasure from LFC gaining an advantage via cheating.
What do you want from the guy
ReplyDeletewhat kind of logical reply is that ?????
ReplyDeleteThat was probably JK on this very website.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you comment on Maradona's hand of God... Still Maradona was an icon in world's football... Footballer of the century... ??
ReplyDeleteYes, it is. And it should also be punished. Retrospective bookings would certainly help.
ReplyDeleteits called bad sportsmanship .not cheating. when a team counter attacks the opposition tackles receiving yellows. its the same thing as that. btw you posted abt this a lot times. let go of it.
ReplyDeleteGiving away a penalty is not cheating....your arguments make no sense.
ReplyDeletehenrys handball for france also
ReplyDeleteYou've opened up a hornet's nest with this one, again. A professional foul isn't it? Or 'technical foul' as Phil Neville, the BBC's new monotone commentator called it. A bit like taking down a player clean through on goal. Usually the perpetrator is punished on the field with a red card, deservedly so. It's unsavoury, yes, but on a scale of 'unsavouriness' I personally find 'simulation' and play-acting far more dishonest and distasteful. Of course, I'm not going to deny that Luis does his far share of that too.
ReplyDeleteSurely not!!! .....He is vehemently opposed to cheating:-)
ReplyDeleteBecause is a lot more relevant in this point of time.
ReplyDeleteI could only read a little of the nonsence above. Re role models - no one decides who is or isn't a role model. Anyone who inspires others is a role model. Suarez inspires, as do many others such as Roy Keane who purposely hurt a fellow pro, ending a career. Cheating is creating something that isn't true, like when Rivaldo pretended the ball hit him in the face when it was his hip. Placing a corner kick outside the triangle is cheating. Handball is in the game as foul play, not cheating. Get a grip. Suarez knew the consequences and was happy to take them. Why should he be sorry?
ReplyDeleteI think this is a rather grandiose and somewhat sanctimonious view - albeit if I am somewhat biased as a Liverpool fan. Interestingly on the Wikipedia page for professional fouls, amongst the notable incidents cited, both Suarez and Solskjaer feature. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but was Solskjaer villified in the same manner as Suarez for his tackle in 1998? I'm too young to remember any of the aftermath, I can just remember Beckham patting him on the back as he trudged of.... Ergo it's a very fine line.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how you keep calling that cheating. Handball is part of the game. He handballed which is an offence and was shown a red card for it. The only difference between his handball and all the other handballs is that it was done on the line. But he was spotted and given a red card for it. How did he cheat anyone with that. Ghana was given a penalty. They didn't score it. Its not Suarez's fault that Ghana didn't score. He was already punished for his offence
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with professional foul but why they called it " professional foul " they sounds better ??? we can call it a foul but we don have to name it to sounds better ..since we all used this name meaning we all agree he is scarified for his team .. i said " i just wonder " and you are directly accused me trying to muddy the waters.. @.@"
ReplyDeleteI find that JK vehemently opposes anything he doesn't agree with. There's no middle ground!
ReplyDeletethey are punished with bookings....
ReplyDeleteHow did he cheat anyone? He cheated Ghana out of a guaranteed goal... Simple as that.
ReplyDeleteBut it was DELIBERATE
ReplyDeleteJamie why don't you ban yourself for attacking the person who commented rather than talk logically about the issue. You always suppress others who do the same.
ReplyDeleteimagine the hypocritical crap you would write on here if suarez had to handball in the 90th minute of a champs league final for us and to go on and win the trophy.
ReplyDeleteyou act like youre a Liverpool fan but all you do is slag the club off week in week out to sell your advertising space on here.. gfys
Maybe in cases like this, they should just be referred using the goal-line tech. and if its deemed to be a certain goal, they just give it anyway? And still send off the player. That would stop people doing it!
ReplyDeleteSo, 1-0 up in the match we need to win to win the league. Suarez handles a goalbound header off the line and the subsequent penalty is missed. Hmmmmmm tough cal lthat one.
ReplyDeleteu just criticise liverpool for everything, why don't u go support everton?
ReplyDeleteThere are many incidents where players get away with it. If they started adding bookings after the game. It would cut it out a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'll back up Jaimie a bit here. When people say it's not cheating because 'Ghana had their chance to score a penalty and failed', then your whole argument is redundant. The fact that Ghana failed to score the penalty is irrelevant. If Suarez hadn't of hand-balled, they wouldn't have even missed a penalty in the first place, and instead would have been waiting back in their half waiting for Uruguay to kick-off.
ReplyDeleteIf you think there is fair play in any professional sport other than winning by all means available within the rules than you are delusional. As they are professional they are there to win games. Its up to the law makers to ensure that incidents like these are stamped out by penalizing these actions appropriately.
ReplyDeleteIf for example a player deliberately stops. a certain goal by committing a foul then it should be a penalty goal and the player gets sent off. That would stop it immediately. By not having video play back for goals or incidents of foul play, football is shooting themselves in the foot. Fred's penalty is a prime example. Don't blame the professionals for acting within the rules of the game, blame the officials for no having the correct rules to stamp it out.
How I wish the other Uraguayan player that was trying to do the exact same thing had succeeded. Then we wouldn't still be hearing about this. Our poor Luis. Now he is getting stick just because he is even a better goalkeeper than his teammates.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest my brain would just explode from moral confusion if Liverpool won their first title in 25 years off the back of a cheating act, given the f**king agony of all the waiting....
ReplyDeleteSometimes, it takes things like that for people to actually realise their hypocrisy. If Suarez cheats against England, and it results in them getting knocked out of the World Cup, then all those fans who've been condoning and enabling his cheating for LFC might finally WAKE UP.
ReplyDeleteI agree with u ..would we complain if suarez done that for us and got us into say the CL final? I doubt it but if it were the other way around and someone done that to us im sure we'd have diff thoughts and feelings about the situation
ReplyDeleteFouls are part of the game. That is why there are consequences for the fouls. The consequence for Luis is that he was shown a red card and forced to miss a World Cup Semifinal. Not a small consequence.
ReplyDeleteDo you follow around criminals after they get released from jail and bother them?
Luis committed a foul and was punished. End of.
What does Maradona have to do with Liverpool? When Daniel Sturridge scores a goal, do you then go on about discuss every goal scored by a top striker in the history of the game?
ReplyDeleteSo when you put the ball out of play but you get the throw-in and deliberately go with it, then you're cheating? Same goes with professional fouls... It's part of the game and everybody does it. If not, I guess you can say everybody where I come from is a cheater.
ReplyDeleteI do. I takes up a hell of a lot of my time though.
ReplyDeleteJaimie K, since long time ago I wanted to ask two questions from you:
ReplyDelete1. You never cheat ? Never ever ? Every foul in game is literally a cheat. Suarez commited foul (you say cheated), got punished. Have you got punished for your "cheats" or have they still unnoticed.
2. Have you ever applied for Rodger assistance regarding signings? Why not, you seems to know everything.
I guess your blog is a pure ego tripping. Nothing else. Good luck.
100% agree with Colin. Jamie, you are a massive Troll. I'm never opening a Liverpool-Kop article again.
ReplyDeleteYou're an ass. He didn't cheat. He gave the other team a penalty and a man advantage. They didn't take advantage. Maybe you should read up on Suarez a little bit more to understand where he's coming from.
ReplyDeleteMan, you are really going for these comments aren't you!
ReplyDeleteI think Jaimie's main problem a lot more so lies in notion of people who consciously promote and encourage cheating. JK probably has cheated at least once in his life on the field, but he seems like somebody who would immediately regret it and discourage it.
ReplyDeleteSo if it made people realise they were wrong to condone cheating then his cheating will have been a good thing?
ReplyDeletePerhaps that was why he cheated against Ghana he was teaching those Ghanaian fans who condone cheating that it was in fact wrong. Now he is slowly working his way through the rest of the world doing his good work
You are trivialising the worst aspects of cheating by comparing it something irrelevant. Typical fan tactics: instead of dealing with the issue, bring other things into the equation that have no relevance.
ReplyDeleteLike everything in life, there are varying levels of offence. Is shoplifting as serious as murder? No. Would you seriously compare the two?!
There are lots of ways to cheat in football, but the most serious examples - i.e. those that have the biggest impact on the result of a game - must be prioritised.
That means it's more important to stamp out diving, cheating,leg-breaking tackles etc than trying con the ref into giving you an unfair throw in. This is obvious, and the fact you ignore it speaks volumes.
A foul is not necessarily cheating. It depends if it was deliberate or not. Some fouls are accidental. Sometimes you are just a little bit late in a tackle. That's why fouls exist.
ReplyDeleteConsider this story. Imagine Jaimie and I are eating a pack of chocolates. We decide to share it equally but then I, being a naughty lad try to take one chocolate from his share. But in the attempt, Jaimies mom catches me and punishes me by giving my chocolate to Jaimie. Now Jaimie is not able to eat the extra because he is calorie conscious.
ReplyDeleteNow will I be considered a thief? No, I got caught and paid the punishment. Cheaters are those who get away with it.
Else according to your logic everyone's in the world who has committed a mistake is a cheater irrespective of whether he was punished or not.
So, next time you flick a candy from your friends, beware! You will be condemned as a thief for life.
Get over it, you sick crybaby...
ReplyDeleteSeveral of your comments have been deleted. If you post any other sniping comments, you will be banned.
ReplyDeleteNo, I never cheat. I make mistakes and do foolish things like most people, but I do not cheat. And even if I did, I wouldn't go around telling everyone that it's okay, and that I'm deserve respect for doing so.
I fully agree with Keith SA! It comes down to Fifa, Uefa, the FA etc who do not want to enforce a system which will eradicate the problems we see in almost every match like diving, deliberate handball, play acting etc.
ReplyDeleteFifa, Uefa and the likes of the the FA condone all these problems we see in the matches as they are not willing to do anything to make the problems go away.
Who is at fault, the players or the people who enforce the rules?
You have posted similar stories before and I am confident that no one at all will take the bait this time and comment on this article .
ReplyDeleteI also confidently predict England will win the WC.
Had Ghana scored the penalty, we are not discussing this incident. Like most footballers Suarez did what is best for the team. You can cheat by handling a ball, you can cheat by wasting the time and playing everything except football like the Special one did at Anfield last April. As a Liverpool supporter I am more hurt by what happened last April, how our beloved team lost the league rather by what happened 4 years ago in South Africa.
ReplyDeleteI would like to confess that I am a cheat. I once scored an offside goal and the linesman did not see it. I was pretty sure I was offside. I celebrated anyway. The video my Dad had proved I was offside. I should have sent it to the league and had the win removed,
ReplyDeleteI would like to apologize to my opponents that day and every other team in the league. God that felt good to get off my chest, Of course in the same game I constantly was fouled and had my shirt tugged and even had some mean things said about my Mom. Maybe it all balances out in the end.
Brilliant. Every click goes Cha Ching!
ReplyDeleteAnd what does this have to do with Suarez's handball? Just because other players do it, does that men Suarez is given a pass?!
ReplyDelete2 wrongs don't make a right! ;-P
ReplyDeleteI remember when I was in school, and I scored a try in rugby, although I wasn't over the line, the ref asked me, and I said it wasn't. My team went mental with me lol.
Stuart, don't get carried away.
ReplyDeleteSuarez is not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!
You mean you've never thrown yourself down to the ground, screaming and grabbing your face in mock agony?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, you do not know that. Uraguay could have taken the ensuing re-start after the goal and scored.
ReplyDeleteThere's no point responding to this because you are clearly an enabler. You find excuses to justify and condone cheating, and you've used the most common method of trivialising cheating: comparing it something infinitely less serious (i.e. kicking a ball out for a throw-in).
ReplyDeleteIt's impossible to have a reasoned debate with someone who has this mindset.
So you can call names and make it personal, but when someone does that to you then you remove the post and warn them. What are the actual rules on this board? Is that cheating? Unfair standard?
ReplyDeleteGet over it Jamie, most players would take one for the team and their managers would expect them to! Your campaign won't change a thing. Many players have done it in the past without a any publicity, Neville, Terry Mac etc. Sturridge scored a handball goal last season and you didn't even mention it.
ReplyDeleteIf they have re-run an old story (and who would do that) Surely it's tantamount to cheating
ReplyDeleteI would have done the same, and I expect other players would to. Chamberlain did it for arsenal last year. But because they scored from the penalty people don't go on about it. Your a hypocrite.
ReplyDelete"a huar huarr...Jaiiimiee Kanwarrr, son of General John Kanwarrr, who fought in the Boer Warrr" *said in a posh voice*
ReplyDeleteDid you miss the penalty? Is that what this is about? Fort God's sake son, keep your head down next time.
ReplyDeleteThere was no personal attack.
ReplyDeleteThe source is Suarez's interview with Sports Illustrated. The more illuminating issue, though, is how you're dead-set on discrediting anything negative said about Suarez, rather than discussing the issue at hand. With respect, you're another apologist/enabler.
ReplyDeleteso they have use old quote twisting them into making people believe it's a new interview... how is that not a fake interview ?
ReplyDeleteit doesn't matter that you don't like Suarez or that he cheated that doesn't make the interview more true
June cover of Sports Illustrated.
ReplyDeleteAll hand balls must be DELIBERATE for them to be given if following the rules so all handballs you see given are DELIBERATE, hence it is simply a handball/
ReplyDeleteA handball is not a foul then? And please attack the argument, not the person. Thank you!
ReplyDeletetell you what jaimie, take all the so called cheats out of the game tomorrow and you wouldnt be able to make a team, now I not condoning cheating but your just jumping on the anti suarez bandwagon by continually singling him out, if you really want to make a point, talk about cheating in general not just suarez
ReplyDeleteSeriously, look at you - spreading false chinese whispers about twisting old quotes, rather than accept that Suarez actually said what he said.
ReplyDeletePlease educate yourself about this site before making such inaccurate comments. I highlight cheating across the board, not just Suarez. I have a series entitled 'Football Cheats', which condemns the cheating of countless players/teams.
ReplyDeleteYou're banned. You're a sniper who is intent on twisting everything I say. Calling someone an 'enabler' is not calling them a negative 'name'.
ReplyDeletePlus, your contention in an earlier post that I delete comments I 'disagree' with is utterly farcical. LOOK AROUND. 99% of people disagree with on this site (this thread is a prime example); why do all their comments stay live.
I'm sick of snipers like you go. Go to TIA and RAWK, where you'll be welcomed with open arms.
Jaime, an enabler is "a person who encourages or enables negative or self-destructive behavior in another". If you can't prove that the dictionary definitions are incorrect, as you yourself have used, you have just made a personal attack on me. By rules you should ban yourself please. if not please make a reasoned reply instead of making ad hominem attacks.
ReplyDeleteMy argument is a reasoned reply to your article. It is an "excuse" to justify, and I make perfect sense. Please address the dictionary definition first, and then we can also talk about fouls that break up play - because that has a high chance of leading to a goal.
I think you have taken the words out of my mouth - it is impossible to have a reasoned debate with you Jaime, who has this mindset, and ignores the very same dictionary definitions he posted. I am merely explaining what you have posted and have come to the correct conclusion, rather than calling someone names.
Jamie, Dont all footballers 'cheat'? You name me a player in the premier league i will find you an example of them 'cheating' via a 'professional foul', 'shirt pulling', dive, claiming a a throw or corner when knowing the ball came off them last, etc.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the game is just too unmoral for you and its time for you to give up watching.
Didnt see the quality on the night Pete only a bunch of indecisive ill disciplined players taking on a side that yes is superior, but they should have been better than that.
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of thing Germany should be doing to Australia not Portugal and world class is the stupidest term in sport.
Right, so just because lots of players cheat, we should all just give up and accept it? Thank god people with your mindset weren't the dominant force when it came to abolishing slavery.
ReplyDeleteDifficult to know where you could go with this... firstly we would have to define a foul as not cheating so that we can nail handballers as cheaters, but what about all the fouls that are not bad timing but meant? they would also be cheating... I'm surprised this blog article was allowed to jump from pondering mode to publish mode, what are you thinking man?
ReplyDeleteIf you want people to agree that our social model is far from being morally balanced, then fine, its not, but to suggest this player is a cheat is to suggest all players are cheats or one decision away from being a cheat.
"Act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage" (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cheat)
What you have highlighted is the fact that we are all cheats or one poor decision away from being a cheat, those players who pull shirts or obstruct are also cheats, those players who fall easily or claim a penalty or throw-in without really knowing if they are entitled are also cheats... this could go on and on!
Sorry, but for me this is a none directional debate, if we call Suarez a cheat then we must call a fair majority of footballers and possibly a large majority of the population, cheats!!!
If you would like to suggest a large number of dishonest or unfair acts happen in sport, then you have my agreement, but to focus on one player and calling that player names is a little concerning for me and smacks of sensationalism.
"(Especially in journalism) the presentation of
stories in a way that is intended to provoke public interest or
excitement, at the expense of accuracy" (http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sensationalism).
Maybe you could debate the potential dishonest or unfair acts we see every week in football, or compare football and rugby, maybe other sports... but to pick one person is beyond a debate, sorry to say, this article is more personal in structure then debating material...
Is it deliberate or is it avoidable? So if it was avoidable its a foul? I.E you don't need to jump in the air waving your arms about, therefore its avoidable.
ReplyDeleteSuarez must be a die hard MARADONA fan. You should blame him not Suarez.
ReplyDelete#LFC #LS7 #YNWA
I wholeheartedly agree with this article, IMO cheating in football is a reflection on our society, get in front by any means necessary.
ReplyDeleteI am a Liverpool fan and my country of birth is playing in the World Cup, regardless if a player from my country cheats I will not applaud. I don't care if it's the final and someone dives on the last minute to bring the cup home, cheating to me is not acceptable.
Of course, when the other teams cheats against Liverpool I get angry and annoyed, but when Liverpool does I feel the same way, if not worse.
Something needs to be done at the very top in order to stop this. Fans turning a blind eye on this will just encourage footballers to carry on.
IMO footballers should not be viewed as role models, but then again it's just human nature to look up to someone we admire. It stings when a player that I really admire like Neymar cheats...but then I look at the state of the game and I see it everywhere which makes me numb to it as no one with power is taking a stand against it.
So I am left in a bit of a limbo.
I remember one game where a defender tackled me from behind and even though I lost my balance for some reason my body just went down, but I could have very easily stayed up...but if I had stayed up then I would have lost the ball...and it made me think if I had cheated...so this argument is not as black and white as we think as there are so many different forms of of things that can technically be viewed as cheating:
1) Holding a players clothes
2) Fouling the last man to prevent a goal scoring opp
3) Pushing and shoving in the box
4) Diving
5) Leaving your foot or leg trailing behind to make sure one gets contact in order to go down
6) Time wasting in goal kicks etc...
7) Players pretending to be injured when they get tackled
8) The screams they make to con the referee into thinking the tackle was a bad one
9) Claiming a throw in when it is clear that it's the other teams
etc...
All in all it's a technical issue. I hate cheating of any sort ( and yes I have cheated to a degree in the past) but it's becoming so widespread and accepted that it makes football matches dull.
There has to be clear guidelines on this. However I don't know the solution to it..bans for players who cheat? Clear definitions of cheating?
Can we realistically expect on tugging and pulling?
What if someone claims it was accidental..like they were "expecting contact" so they stated going down before it was made?
So this is my little two cents, of course not everyone will agree..would be good to hear what you think.
Just for a break amongst the arguing, fun as it is, I'd like to pick up on the point above about Patrick Vieira refusing to condemn Muller's blatant attempt at deception. He and Cannavaro just shrugged it off, while smugface Chiles and Lee Dixon where apoplectic. Perhaps an indication of how differently cheating in football is viewed on the continent, whereas in the UK we generally find it so repulsive and embarrassing. Cheating on the pitch takes many forms, but if there's one thing that turns me off more than anything it's the deliberate act of feigning injury in the attempt to get an opposing player sent off, which was clearly Muller's intention yesterday. And it worked, albeit indirectly.
ReplyDeleteWhat a comment. This holier than thou attitude of yours to a fan stating his opinion (very politely) is the real abomination here. Hopefully this comment doesn't get me banned, its just my "öpinion"
ReplyDeleteNo, I won't 'get over it'. You can jump on the 'cheating is okay' bandwagon, but I won't.
ReplyDeleteAs for Sturridge's alleged handball - I don't agree it was a deliberate handball, thus I didn't write about it. Just because you think it's deliberate, doesn't mean everyone else has to.
And I always highlight blatant, provable examples of cheating gamesmanship from LFC players. Take Sturridge, for example: I highlighted his diving last season:
http://www.liverpool-kop.com/2014/03/liverpool-man-united-sturridge-dive-henderson-suarez-yellow-card-rafael.html
So, the idea that I ignore things is nonsense.
what didn't you post a link to the interview directly ? because the link you put didn't source their quote.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an apologist everytime we talk about Suarez and someone doesn't agree with you, you're saying they condemn cheating or whatever.
Not my fault it the express post a BS interview to make some view, he cheated, yeah but the express interview will remain bullshit because they're just saying things without quoting their source. that's professionnal journalism, if you don't have source it's not true.
Calling someone an "enabler" and accepting of cheating is a violation of the rules of this board. It is a personal attack. We can disagree on what "cheating" is without the personal insults.
ReplyDeleteHolier than thou? Rubbish. I gave my reply in a polite manner; you just don't like the nature of my reply. People who make excuses for Suarez are part of the problem. If you don't like that opinion, tough luck.
ReplyDeleteDidn't realise the World Cup Semi Final was just "a little football"
ReplyDeletewhat an idiot! this is a useless story, old news and pointless arguement! he was punished for the handball and they had every chance to score the penalty. please fuck off now
ReplyDeleteghana cheated the referee into given them the free-kick that led to the handball...
ReplyDeleteyes Suarez commit and illegal act (and cheated) but don't talk about ghana like they're the good guy just because they're an african team and nowadays talking bad about black people is racist even if it's true.
Actually in Spain, "embellishing" to help the referee make the right decision is very much applauded. Pepe's headbutt was a red card anyway, you could say Müller was only trying to help to make the referee make the right decision. In this case it's not very significant, but there was a recent case where Sturridge "dived".
ReplyDeleteIn that case, I believe it was against Vidic, minimal or no contact was made. However it was in the rules that if a clear goalscoring opportunity was denied (Sturridge had to get out of the way, which affected his balance to score that goal - he would have missed his goalscoring opportunity if he tried to continue to go through), he should be awarded a red card. Yet if he doesn't go down in the box, a penalty would most likely have not been given. What should he have done then?
I meant in terms of time. I.E 1 or 2 games, or whatever it was.
ReplyDeleteVirtually every player cheats not just alot. Football is a game, not life and morality. If you want morality and examples to live by don't look at football at game to lead you to the light.
ReplyDeleteThe game is fantastic and enjoyed all over the world, so is it a major issue, no not really.
To compare cheating in football with slavery is also ridiculous and really shouldn't have been done.
Good points. Totally agree. Feigning injury is just horrible, and Muller is just as bad as Suarez when it comes to cheating.
ReplyDeleteIt really bugged me to see Vieira and Cannavaro basically shifting the blame away from Muller. They should be ashamed of themselves. The worst thing is their views will basically validate fans who hold the same opinion.
Major respect for Lee Dixon, who was obviously shocked to see Vieira et al making excuses.
Tough one this...diving is definitely cheating that's not open for debate but is deliberately handballing actually cheating? Suarez made a conscious decision to put the team and his nation before his own personal wishes, he knew the consequences, a red card, and still chose to do it. I don't think you can call this cheating though JK. It was a calculated decision which ultimately won his team the game. I'm not saying I condone his actions just don't quite see it as cheating in the way you do.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the 2010 Ghana-Uraguay game recorded that they can send me? I want to count all the fouls in the game and see who cheated more.
ReplyDeleteDon't try an seize some sort of moral high ground by comparing yourself to those who helped abolish slavery. You're a self-righteous blogger commenting on football, not an emancipator
ReplyDeleteIt's not comparing cheating to slavery; it's comparing a principle: i.e just going with the flow and accepting the status quo just because everyone else does.
ReplyDeleteIf history had your mindset, the world would still be in the dark ages.
You are basically arguing that cheating is okay and should be accepted because every player does it.
This mindset is why the modern game is a morally bankrupt cesspool.
well Canavaro was not the cleanest footballer, there's video of him taking drugs before UEFA cup final with juventus i think, so in his mind i bet diving or whatever is doesn't really matter.
ReplyDeleteIt all comes down to perspective I think. Suarez is a team player. He plays for his team and he plays for his country. He obviously knew the handball was against the rules, and would result in a red card and ban. He did it anyway. To his team-mates and his countrymen, Suarez is a hero. To everyone else, he appears a villain. The World Cup comes every four years, and the chance to make the Semi's is a huge deal. Personally I respect him all the more for doing what we he did. His team and country mean everything to him. How do you respect someone who doesn't take every opportunity to help their team and country (at personal cost).
ReplyDeleteAnd you've used the most disgusting form of vilifying cheating by comparing it to slavery
ReplyDeleteJust found the stats. 23 fouls committed by both teams, so since a foul is cheating, it seems like things balanced out perfectly. Sorry, Ghana, if you had cheated one less time I would have been on your side.
ReplyDeleteI does need to be looked at. But like you say its hard to know what the answer is.
ReplyDeleteIMO, I think the more obvious ones that could be addressed are.
Feigning injury - If a player goes down claiming to be injured, the game either carries on, like in rugby, or the player HAS to leave the pitch for a minimum of X number of minutes to receive treatment.
Diving - Looked at after the game, given a yellow card.
'Professional Fouls' again looked at after the game, given a yellow card. Although I think in most cases, people do usually get booked in the game.
Real time reviews. So each team has the option of 1? review a half, if a team feels a wrong doing, the Captain, and only the captain can appeal the decision (obviously with some guidance from any players involved) then the incident is reviewed by video ref.
It will be almost impossible to cut it all out completely, but steps can be taken to reduce the impact of players taking advantage.
I can't tell if you're joking or not with that first paragraph.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of Pepe, but that was not a headbutt. A headbutt is a forceful thrust of the head with the intent to cause harm or injury to another person. Muller was not helping the referee come to the correct decision - that's ludicrous. He was attempting to con the referee into thinking Pepe's actions were violent and deserving of a red card (which they weren't).
Im saying that it has become part of the game and once again i will remind you it is a game. Its it not the bible or other religious text that are meant to lead you in life.
ReplyDeleteDo people play games the same way they run their life? No its is a game, something you , play.
If you think the game is a morally bankrupt cesspool, why do you still watch and run a site about the game. Protest by turning your back on the sport and to stop popularising it by running a site about it?
If you start to blur the lines of what is and isn't a headbutt, people will try to get away with it.
ReplyDeleteNo excuses, if you move your head in a 'butting' motion towards a player, red card. simple as that. Pepe knew the rules.
Muller should have been booked too.
It probably was accidental but it should have been disallowed, Sturridge didn't own up despite obviously being aware of this! When Suarez had a similar scenario in the FA cup you wanted the game to be replayed! Spot the difference?
ReplyDeleteJamie, I've been pretty much on your side when it comes to Suarez and his antics. I wanted him out last summer as I believed he was dragging our name in the mud but thank god I'm not the manager because BR has done an amazing job turning him around and, most importantly to me, restoring the image of our beloved club.
ReplyDeleteAs a Kenyan, like you as a Scot, I know my country will never grace the world cup any time soon so I'm resigned to cheer for my continent. When Suarez hanballed on the line, there was uproar for what he did but he got sent off and a pen was given so the ref got it right. The person who should be blammed for the loss was Gyan who skied a pen he should have scored. Did Suarez cheat, yes; was he punished yes; but did he do what any player would have done for his country? YES! Sturridge came out yesterday and said no england player would pull that kind of a move. Correct me if my memory is off but didn't Neville pull the same thing off in the merseyside derby while he was still an england international? I bet you he would have done the same thing again if it meant saving a goal. Why aren't we labeling him a cheat? (other than the fact we think all evertonians are cheats:)
What about Fred, at 6ft 1 who goes down in the box blatantly trying to cheat and win a pen. Do we call him a cheat or blame the ref? We blame the ref when, imo, what he did was just as bad as what Suarez did. Its actually worse because the wrong call was made and the game was decided on that. You do what you must to win a game but i would argue that handballing on the line is just as cynical at diving in the box. The only reason I'd say diving is worse is because too many times the refs are conned, and like Fred, the culprit gets away. Suarez was caught and punished and helped his team win the game. If you are really going to get on the case of people cheating Jamie, get on the case of those who dive in the box more. Lets talk about whether they should be sent off for something like that. Because if handballing on the line is considered a red for stopping a legit goal shouldnt creating an illegitimate goal also be the same?
I understand you're approaching this in the wake of his comments and the fact that people are still defending him. But who's defending Croatia? Who's getting on Fred's case and looking into harsher punishments for trying to con the ref?
Just to be clear I believe Suarez cheated, but he was punished and I hold no ill feeling against him because justice was served. If Gyan had scored, we wouldnt be talking about it. He didnt and the rest is history
nope it's only cheating if it stands against British moral value not if it's an action against the rule of the game like deliberate foul to gain times, or stop the opposing team attack ;)
ReplyDeleteSorry, but that's not true. Not every player is 'one decision away from being a cheat'. Mindset matters here, and only a comparatively small number of players perpetrate serious acts of cheating.
ReplyDeleteFor example, in the history of the World Cup, how many players have deliberately used their hand to gain a game-changing advantage in the latter stages of the tournament? Suarez, Maradona, and...?
Most players don't do that kind of thing; they cheat in other less serious ways (and that is wrong), but very few do things like that.
What you are doing, like so many others, is trying to dilute the issue by focusing on irrelevant issues.
Why should we discuss the cheating of every other player when discussing Suarez? No one denies other players cheat, but they don't all play for Liverpool FC.
That is the crux of the issue. Suarez is an LFC player, and what he does reflects badly on the club.
Plus, it's hypocritical. When Suarez scores a wonder-goal for Liverpool, do you then go on to discuss every wonder-goal scored by opposition teams? No.
This approach is only championed when the issue is something you disagree with. You don't want people to focus on Suarez, so you encourage people to think about dozens of other incidents from players who have nothing to do with LFC.
An embellishment is a cherry on top of a coconut cake and not something that should ever come into play on a football pitch. Pepe is an utter fool, but I understand his frustration. Muller's ridiculous dive happened before the 'headbutt' anyway. His intention was clearly to feign injury to get the player booked or sent off.
ReplyDeleteThis is very true, its not like how you are supposed to act while playing a game is written down or anything, if you do something bad in a game you are obviously a bad person and murder small animals for run.
ReplyDeleteNext thing you know drug taking will be against the rulesl
ReplyDeleteSome people Just Can't Get Enough of Luis Suarez
ReplyDeleteahahah you are very true sir :)
ReplyDeleteThere is no 'difference'.
ReplyDeleteSuarez's handball was demonstrably deliberate; he has past form for deliberately using his hand, and he has even admitted in public that it's okay, and he'd do it again. As such, the probability is extremely high that Suarez's handball in the FA was cynically deliberate.
Sturridge has no such history of deliberate cheating, thus the probability is his handball was accidental.
The fact that you refuse to see this distinction says it all, really.
A yellow card for both would have been a satisfactory solution. One for being a big girls's blouse, the other for thuggery.
ReplyDeleteI respect your opinion but I kindly disagree. If he did that against your own country or team would you feel the same way? I think it's easy to think like this when we are not the ones on the receiving end. (IMO)
ReplyDeleteSorry, after this comment, I no longer wish to debate this with you.
ReplyDeleteYou are an enabler, pure and simple. Football is in the gutter because of fans like you who make endless excuses to condone cheating.
Things only change when people take action, and highlight the problem, which is what I do. I want football to change, so I do my bit to highlight the negatives.
I don't just give up and jump on the bandwagon like you.
And in a nutshell, you encapsulate the poisonous mindset that is killing the game. Bravo.
ReplyDeleteI think your point kind of makes mine. It all comes down to perspective. If it was my team at the receiving end, I'd be pissed off as hell. In this case, I remain a neutral. But as many others have said, including the poor lad who missed the resulting penalty, he would have done the same thing for his country, if he had the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteLets not forget Paul Scholes, Nicky butt and Phil Neville, who've all deliberately handled balls on the line to prevent goals. They were scarcely even mentioned in the match reports, let alone dragged into every article n conversation for the rest of their careers. None of them were ever once called cheats, disgraces or any such terms.
ReplyDeleteThen there's Oxlade-Chamberlain, who not only deliberately handled on the goal-line, but also got away with it, both in the game and after it. No calls for his head, no national outcry for justice, no mention whatsoever on this site either I might add. No declaration of unashamed cheat for The Ox.
Right. So everything negative is okay just as long as you're doing it for your country?
ReplyDeleteIf Suarez deliberately broke another player's leg to stop a goal being scored, is that okay, too?
Using your logic, it must be...just as long as it's done for patriotic reasons.
Quality post, very sensible indeed.
ReplyDeleteYou just need to draw the line. Obviously Suarez turning into Oliver Kahn is cheating. It's a level beyond the handball foul itself. I think most people can recognise the difference between that and a regular foul. 'Cheating' is something that must be considered within circumstance. Handball in the middle of the pitch which the ref acknowledges is a foul. If the outfield player turns into superman to save a goal, it's cheating - it's still a foul, but it's so clear, distinct and unordinary. Again, I think the difference is clear to see and I've explained as best I can.
Bearing what I just said in mind, the nine acts which you listed, especially the acts which are already defined as fouls within the game, can be considered cheating just by the definition of cheating itself. However if you draw the line between ordinary and unordinary, is shirt tugging really 'cheating'. No IMO, however, diving is. But if someone recognises acts on the pitch as fouls rather than simply cheating, are they an enabler and a Suarez-apologist? I wouldn't say so.
Also, most of the acts you listed generally deceive the ref, as the ref calls the game as they see it. Things like diving are slowly being sorted out, however a lot of the things which deceive the ref are impossible to eradicate.
The game is not being killed. It is as enjoyable as ever. Never more so than during the World Cup.
ReplyDeleteI understand your point but...it is cheating IMO. Deliberate handballs are against the rules. When someone does it they get punished of course, but it's still cheating. He handballed it and then acted as if he didn't, and acted totally shocked when the referee sent him off and gave him a pen.
ReplyDeletePutting your "nation" ahead of your own desires should help him to represent it in the best manner possible.
Maradona, one of the best footballers ever, cheated to win that game...people accept it.
Was that handball deliberate? Of course. Was cheating? Of course. Would England fans have made such a roar if it was Lineker who has done instead? No.
I don't have the answers though, just my opinion.
Ok fair enough but i do not carry out the cheating,gamesmanship, diving etc that is the players, i do not make the rules for the game or govern the punishments for offenses in the game thats FIFA, UEFA and the various FA's, I do not referee the game and decide when an offense has been committed and how to punish it, that's the referees.
ReplyDeleteYet its because of people like me that it exists and none of the above. Shame on me.
What does this have to do with Suarez cheating, or LFC? Absolutely nothing. So why bring it up? Why would I mention those players when I'm principally concerned with how cheating reflects negative on LFC?
ReplyDeleteIt really is unbelievable how people continually attempt to dilute the issue by bringing up irrelevant issues.
Interesting topic I am neutral in this argument but when i think about it in terms of did Suarez actions lead to an "advantage or deprive Ghana of something ?" not really a man down with a golden chance to win the game seems befitting for Suarez actions. What made me hate Suarez was not what he done on the field (I am pretty sure 90% would do the same for there Country , I am not saying its just but its in his nature to win at all cost), It was his reaction , he was walking of the filed crying and when Gyan missed he was running around celebrating like a champion . That was disgusting and made Suarez the most hated man in football.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest deliberately injuring a person would be breaking the law (as opposed to a footballing rule) and to most reasonable people this would not be acceptable and well over the line. I think even Luis Suarez would agree on this point.
ReplyDeleteThere is a cultural difference going on here as well. Suarez comes from a culture where committing a handball on the line is not considered cheating.
ReplyDeleteCorrect my friend, the game is booming and more popular than ever.
ReplyDeleteSaying that 'it' is killing the game is purely an opinion and nothing more.
I agree that the game is not being killed. As for your closing remark, however, I must vehemently disagree, sir! (I'm ready for the PL to start again and don't want our lads getting injured in Brazil.)
ReplyDeleteAre you for real?
ReplyDeleteI think you have perfectly highlighted the crux to this whole debate...if it happens for you or your team you are willing to forgive, if you are a neutral you might not like it but it hasn't had a direct influence on your team so you don't care so much. The major problem arises when it happens against your team suddenly it is the worst imaginable thing any human being could possibly do and your team and supporters are up in arms about the scumbag cheaters.
ReplyDeleteUntil everyone together gangs up against the so called 'cheaters' this will forever and always be a part of our game.
I understand that, but from a neutral viewing point of view, it is a pleasure to watch in my opinion. Where else do you get to see Clint Dempsey look like Messi, even if it was only for 10 seconds?
ReplyDeleteFabulous goal. Couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been to South America or played against South Americans?
ReplyDeleteI see what you did there...
ReplyDeletename says it all really
ReplyDeleteI'll ask the questions here. ;)
ReplyDeleteJaimie I think you're going to have to accept that it's a cultural thing. In Britain we have a very strong sense of fair play but clearly in Uruguay it's win at any cost. Gus poyet was saying the other day that Uruguay would cheat to win. Clearly a whole nation thinks that way just as in Italy, if a player dives and wins a penalty they all think he was clever and cunning and don't consider it cheating.
ReplyDeleteI don't condone this behaviour by any means but I think that repeatedly banging on about Suarez being a cheat is getting old. We all know what his antics were like and, as you recognised in your opening paragraph, he's made great strides. Suarez has been raised in a country where they have a win at all costs mentality and it must be very difficult to stop playing the way you always have. Imagine you, with your strong sense of fair play, moved to a team and you were told to cheat, win at all costs etc. you'd find it very difficult to do cos it goes against the way you've played your entire life. Give the guy a break he's making progress
Funny this British sense of fair play only seems to extend to sports. At least historically. Maybe that will help to keep things in prospective and not let us feel too superior.
ReplyDeleteThere was nothin vaguely deliberate out the handball against mansfield, it was point blank, no chance for him to avoid it. His frustrated hoof of the ball, followed by his confusion at the goal standing tell you all you need to know, it was not deliberate. and jus about every pundit n football man backed. THE MANSFIELD MANAGER AND PLAYERS even said it wasnt deliberate, right after the game when emotions were still raw, they were still level headed enough to see the truth
ReplyDeleteI kind of agree with the 'it's not right' but whilst the rules are what they are, suarez paid the price for the handball, like you would pay the price for parking on a double yellow by paying a ticket. the rules need to be changed. if something is so clear like this instance that ball WAS going to cross the line goal should be given, no penalty needed. this would stop players handling and giving the opposition the chance to miss the pen.
ReplyDeleteMy gripe with this article is that the writer has an agenda against suarez. henry handballed in a world cup qualifier and completely went unpunished and nobody says a thing. its worse than suarez as suarez knew he would be sent off and pen would be given. henry did it knowing he would get away without punishment.
So much cheating goes on and does not get highlighted. Pushing and pulling at corners, stealing space for throw-ins, diving, pressurising the ref, feigning injury, time wasting etc. ALL are cheating. No one says much. But Suarez is always the villain. His problem is he is too honest. He should put a lid on it, do what he wants and suffer the repurcussions on the pitch like everyone else and no one would say much like all other cases.
Jamie, pick on someone else, of another team maybe or just shut it mate.
What he did with the hand ball is no different from someone doing a 'professional foul', it's become part and parcel with the game. Like a 'professional foul' is sacrificing yourself for punishment as is a timely hand ball. The 'English Pundits' will say that's disgusting on Suarez's part..... but they view another passage of play and with a different pair of spectacles on the will say he should have fouled him and taken the 'red card'(is this not cheating also?)
ReplyDeleteEvery action has a reaction, in this case handling the ball to stop a goal scoring opportunity is no different than a defender bringing down an attacker who is clearly through on goal.
ReplyDeleteThere would probably have been a greater call for injustice if the incident had gone unpunished, a red card and a penalty seems about as far as one can go to for the punishment to fit the crime!
Is a linesman a cheat when he is guilty of negligence?
Or a referee when he does not give a blatant penalty?
How about handball outside the box?
How about a manager Ie... (Scolari) clearly defending the penalty awarded against Croatia?
Interpretation through an individuals eyes is the only difference that i can see...
I've got it perhaps we should only allow the British to play football - problem solved
ReplyDeleteStraight question, do you think those four players are a disgrace to the game (manc associations aside)
ReplyDeleteGood points, and you're right - it is a cultural thing, and I see that. However, it doesn't mean it should just be accepted.
ReplyDeleteIt's also important to note that Suarez is the only who keeps bringing up the Ghana issue, not me. In his Sports Illustrated interview, he brings it up yet again, as he has done repeatedly over the last four years.
If he raises the issues, a response should be expected. Suarez is clearly trying to solidify in peoples' minds his view on the issue (i.e. sacrifice; the right things to do etc).
I can't just stand by and allow that to be out there without a rebuttal. If no one challenges this poisonous line of thinking, then it just becomes even more accepted.
I don't think he a SCOT, he must be a Ghanaian or someone who block booked 'Azonto' classes, and feels more Ghanaian than Bolo Zenden (since his moves are better).
ReplyDeleteWasn't being wholly serious in my 'vehement' protest of your comment. I enjoy the WC because it scratches my football itch until the PL resumes. Dempsey's goal was lovely. Watched it over and over
ReplyDeleteIn no way was Suarez's handball against Mansfield "demonstrably deliberate".
ReplyDeleteOf course, and I've highlighted countless examples of opposition players cheating over the years.
ReplyDeleteAs such, your point doesn't really have much merit.
For example, I've criticised Wayne Rooney's cheating far more than Suarez's. Just do a site search and you'll see.
The problem here is you see to assume that I only criticise Suarez for cheating, which is wrong.
I don't have to reference ever footballer who's ever cheated in the history of the game when I'm discussing Suarez.
The article states that anyone that doesn't agree that Suarez is a cheater are betraying the club that they claim to support. Is that a bit harsh?
ReplyDeleteSo all the people on here condoning, justifying or supporting cheating are foreign then?
ReplyDeleteWhy are you asking such a question? Jock in the Kop argued that Suarez's cheating is a cultural thing; I agreed. Clearly, I'm referring specifically to Suarez here (and the alleged culture of Uruguay) - it's not a general comment on cheating as a whole.
ReplyDeleteEnglish players cheat just as much as overseas players, and I've highlighted that in my 'Football Cheats' series, wherein Wayne Rooney is the most regular offender.
Some people just don't see it as cheating, but as part of the game. I myself see it no different than taking down an attacker as the last defender, before he can shoot. Of course, when a defender does that he almost always raises his hands to indicate he didn't touch the attacker. That seems like double cheating and worse than a handball on the line.
ReplyDeleteThe big difference this year is he's taking responsibility for his failings he's admitted his mistakes and is moving on Jamie it's called the past for a reason, you can keep looking back for past mistakes or move on and enjoy the football displays he's produced, he's been punished for his crimes, I can understand why he feels he's been persecuted when he sees articles like this looking at his life under a microscope, hell Thierry Henry used his hand to score a goal against Ireland in a WC qualifier which subsequently sent France to the WC the whole incident was sickening an went unpunished, the difference is Suarez is well on his way to rehabilitating his career and BR is making sure he sees it. Discipline is good but it should be dished out to everyone in the same way hence JR was involved in a similar racial attack and got a 4 match ban, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.
ReplyDeleteIt's one rule for him and another set for everyone else. Just like he responds to those comments he can easily bat away pretty quickly but if ever someone makes a good point in opposition of him, he suddenly doesn't have time for a reply. I actually find the piece rather funny as it is a tad over emotional but what it did make me think is that JK is a very clever guy who must be delighted at the number of people who bite whenever he comes up with one of these articles. It's like reading the Daily Mail, without the veiled racism and the mentions of Lady Diana.
ReplyDeleteHope he does it against 'Scotland'...alas Henry style. If this scenario happens I think we will see the best article you've ever written, showing more passion than Luis has ever shown on the pitch.
ReplyDeleteHe's not taking responsibility, though. Read his comments: Suarez still maintains he did nothing 'wrong' against Ghana. How is that 'taking responsibility'?
ReplyDeletePlus, Suarez is the one who keeps bringing up the Ghana situation.
As for Henry: you and others continually trivialise that incident, and try and convince people that he went 'unpunished'. In that case, the referee made a mistake in not dealing with it. However, the vitriol aimed at Henry was considerable, and he will always be blighted by that issue for as long as he lives.
In Suarez's case, the referee saw what happened, and acted accordingly.
I agree. He really is trying and I have yet to see an article anywhere accusing all the defenders who hack him of cheating. The stamp on his chest last season went practically unreported.
ReplyDeleteClearly it is not a cultural thing 'cos not all British people agree with you as the posts on here show.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the same token there might also be a Uruguayan JK out there who does not like cheating.
Just adding more spice to this hot topic hahaha
ReplyDeleteJiminez Kanwarez?
ReplyDeleteBut why can you not see that is because he doesn't view that incident as cheating?
ReplyDeleteHe is not defending the biting, which in my view would be offensive and have me on your side. He disagrees with you that it was cheating and he was probably asked about it by the interviewer.
When he comes out and says that biting is just part of the game, then I think you will have a point.
Adding more spice to this hot topic hahaha
ReplyDeleteHey, where did my Thiery Henry handball leading to France qualification picture went?
ReplyDeleteComparing physically injuring another human being in a deliberate manner and denying a goal are not the same thing. I have never seen anyone defend Suarez taste for human flesh as part of the game.
ReplyDeleteVery nice, But no I think you'll find he's the one that condemns the British sense of fair play and thinks everyone should cheat.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why you've even enabled comments. There is no discussion here as far as you are concerned and this is one of those incidents where you simply vilify anyone with an opposing view. There is no scope here for anyone to respond in any way other than to agree with you. Previously you've even gone so far as to delete posts that condone cheating, so why even bother? Go ahead, stand on your soapbox and make your little speech, but if you're not willing to entertain the possibility of an opposing view then turn off the comments and just be done with it.
ReplyDeleteSuarez's comments are very specific. He says he's been a role model "this year" and in terms of his on-field behaviour that is very clearly the case. You've even made comments yourself about his positive change. For someone to go from being an on-field asshole to picking up their behaviour is indeed a good example to set so I'm 100% with him on that. More football players should follow his example and clean up their act.
Poisonous vacuous comments...
ReplyDelete...I think the poisoin you spout on a regular basis fits that definition perfectly. Constantly attacking Liverpool players, their fans - even gloating how you wish to see LIVERPOOL fans being upset by a Liverpool player possibly eliminitating another 5 Liverpool players playing for the country Liverpool is in.
What team do you support?? There is one group of supporters who seem to take joy from watching Liverpool fans getting upset - and it's usually not other Liverpool fans.
Learn some respect, and get off your high horse, you wannabe.
I agree with what you say about relative judgement, but I'd say that even if Maradona's excess is distasteful, I'd still consider him 'World Class' for his on-field exploits.
ReplyDeleteJust get over hating the man it's sour grapes just because he has proved you wrong he is the third best player in the world and I for one am delighted he is a liverpool player
ReplyDeleteReading the account of the Uruguay-Ghana game in 2010, the commentator stated that in the 103rd minute Abreu was fouled in the box by John Paintsil and the ref did not give the penalty. Is John Paintsil a cheater? The author of the article gives 2 independent news stories of the game. The Guardian and Goal.com.
ReplyDeleteBy your reasoning Jamie any footballer, especially defenders who have deliberately fouled another player is a cheat.
ReplyDeleteThis would include Liverpool greats such as Carragher,, Hansen, Hyypia, Yeats, Lawler, Hysen, Smith, Thompson, Hughes etc...
Any defender who has deliberately brought down an opposing player to stop them having a run on goal is a cheat.
Nice.
It appears some people just can't get enough of him.
ReplyDeleteThat's what he does if you are against him. It's like religion, if you don't believe in Him, you go to hell. There's a saying "if you don't like what you read here, just leave" but I like it here, so I want to stay here, please don't ban me.
ReplyDeleteThe real icing on the cake is someone claiming that they have never cheated on a pitch in their lives.
ReplyDeleteMost footballers do cheat, including LFC players, past and present. What's your point?
ReplyDeleteThere are different levels of cheating, though. It should all be stamped out, but it's more important to prioritise game-changing acts of cheating, such as diving, deliberate handball on the line etc.
The same principle applies in every sphere of life. There are countless different types of crime, but the most serious crimes (rape, murder, armed robbery etc) are prioritised (in terms of expenditure/resources) over shoplifting, and train fare-evasion.
Reading the account of the Uruguay-Ghana game in question in 2010, the commentator stated that in the 103rd minute Abreu was fouled in the box by John Paintsil and the ref did not give the penalty. Is John Paintsil a cheater? The author of the article gives 2 independent news stories of the game. The Guardian and goal dot com. Would it be okay if Suarez came out and said he was just trying to make the game fair by doing the same thing John Paintsil did in the 103rd minute?
ReplyDeleteGet a grip I'd be disappointed if he hadn't handled it! I hope he'd do it for LFC to. It's not cheating it's football and shows a great will to win.
ReplyDeleteSo stopping an opposing player though on goal is not a important game changing act?
ReplyDelete