Liverpool's Luis Suarez has been charged by the FA today for 'an alleged gesture made towards the Fulham fans' at the end of Monday night's defeat at Craven cottage. I may be clutching at straws here but I think this could (indirectly) turn out to be a positive thing for both Suarez and the club.
This is Suarez's second charge of the season, the first being for alleged racial abuse towards Patrice Evra, a situation that the FA probably wishes they didn't have to deal with.
It's been over six weeks since the alleged incident and there's still no resolution, and I think it's clear that the FA is stalling over making a decision.
Why? Well, if the FA find Suarez guilty, it will basically amount to a damaging admission that racism DOES exist in English football, something that would reflect badly on the FA, and English football in general.
It's the same with the John Terry situation; if England's captain was found guilty of racism it would be a massive embarrassment to the FA, and they have done everything possible so far to avoid that happening.
There is a reason that no top-level player has ever been 'convicted' of racial abuse in the entire history of English football: if no one is found guilty, then it doesn't exist, and the FA can keep its unblemished race-record intact.
I think the FA will view Suarez's latest infraction as a possible lifeline. It's easier for them to dismiss the Evra situation if Suarez has already been severely censured for something else, and I have no doubt that the FA will disproportionately punish the Uruguayan over the Fulham incident (In effect, punishing him for both incidents).
Then, when the CPS inevitably decides that John Terry has no case to answer, the FA will use that as an excuse not to charge the Chelsea defender, and this will (IMO) be swiftly followed by the Suarez-Evra case being dropped.
Ultimately, Suarez's Fulham charge could turn out to be the 'get out jail free' card the FA has been waiting for.
Having said all that, if John Terry is charged by the Police then all bets are off. If that happens, the FA will have no choice but to charge Terry, and there's no way they're going to punish the England captain and then let Suarez get away with it.
If Terry goes down, Suarez goes down.
Jaimie Kanwar
This is Suarez's second charge of the season, the first being for alleged racial abuse towards Patrice Evra, a situation that the FA probably wishes they didn't have to deal with.
It's been over six weeks since the alleged incident and there's still no resolution, and I think it's clear that the FA is stalling over making a decision.
Why? Well, if the FA find Suarez guilty, it will basically amount to a damaging admission that racism DOES exist in English football, something that would reflect badly on the FA, and English football in general.
It's the same with the John Terry situation; if England's captain was found guilty of racism it would be a massive embarrassment to the FA, and they have done everything possible so far to avoid that happening.
There is a reason that no top-level player has ever been 'convicted' of racial abuse in the entire history of English football: if no one is found guilty, then it doesn't exist, and the FA can keep its unblemished race-record intact.
I think the FA will view Suarez's latest infraction as a possible lifeline. It's easier for them to dismiss the Evra situation if Suarez has already been severely censured for something else, and I have no doubt that the FA will disproportionately punish the Uruguayan over the Fulham incident (In effect, punishing him for both incidents).
Then, when the CPS inevitably decides that John Terry has no case to answer, the FA will use that as an excuse not to charge the Chelsea defender, and this will (IMO) be swiftly followed by the Suarez-Evra case being dropped.
Ultimately, Suarez's Fulham charge could turn out to be the 'get out jail free' card the FA has been waiting for.
Having said all that, if John Terry is charged by the Police then all bets are off. If that happens, the FA will have no choice but to charge Terry, and there's no way they're going to punish the England captain and then let Suarez get away with it.
If Terry goes down, Suarez goes down.
Jaimie Kanwar
you my dear lad are a nut with some issues to worry about but that of terry or suarez...two different cases terry and suarez are much alike but still diff cases...best thing is for luis is to get da fach away from england.
ReplyDeleteDid any one Hear what he (Suarez) allegedly said to Evra !!!! If not where's the case
ReplyDeleteVery loose logic. Clutching at straws is probably a good definition.
ReplyDeleteI will be proved right though. You'll see. You call it loose logic, but it's easy to read between the lines.
ReplyDeleteDont worry folks, Suarez will get "Get out of Jail" free card. The FA knows how to play Monopoly.
ReplyDeleteIf they wanted to keep their race-record clean, why did they charge him in the first place?? Now please don't tell me its coz of Fergie. If thats your answer donot reply please. Ill understand.
ReplyDeleteenglish FA is idiot! very biased toward man utd! i think man utd give money to the english fa! corrupted EFA!
ReplyDeleteFergie is a local political powerhouse, which explain to a large extend the disproportinately large number of local tropheys he has won and the very few international ones... (anyone Basel?) :) In Suarez's case the FA should take into consideration the cultural subtleties before making a decision and whether what he has siad, if anything at all, bear similar meaning in the Uruguayan cultural context.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think good players have been given a fair chance to succeed in football for quite some time now regardless of color.
Did Wayne Rooney not make an identical gesture to Chelsea supporters ? Can't recall any sanctions being taken against his club or him
ReplyDeleteI'm actually quite impressed Jamie (at least for the first half of the article). Instead of your typical overly sensational, negative and pseudo-controversial writing you are actually using some (at times) sound logic. And yes, that was a compliment. I don't agree with the Terry and Suarez cases being overly linked (indeed, if anything, the FA won't want 2 of their top players convicted of racism in the same month), but the idea of the "finger" incident allowing them to skirt around the racism charge is an interesting (and possibly insightful) idea.
ReplyDeleteMore articles like this and less articles titled "Darglish swears that he won't call on Gerrard to play for LFC", and we find out that the "Gerrard" in question is the gaffers new Irish Terrier.
keeping up appearances; it makes it look like they're taking racism in football seriously. A charge means nothing; only a conviction holds weight, and the fact that the FA ha s NEVER convicted a top level player of racial abuse in over 100 years of football speaks volumes.
ReplyDeleteFuzzy Math is what I call it, bro!
ReplyDeleteFirst things first - David Gill, Chief Executive of Manchester United FC, needs to be removed from the FA! It's unacceptable that any club has a direct representative at the FA which should instead consist of independent individuals who can make unbiased decisions. Until that happens, you will always have decisions swayed in Man U's favour.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between Suarez and Terry is that Terry has consistently denied making any racist comment. Luis unfortunately has admitted that he said something which he believed should not have upset Evra because it is not considered racist where he comes from. If he had also consistently denied saying anything then Evra would have needed witnesses and the FA would not have a case. For a remark to be deemed racist it needs to be considered so by the person hearing it, not the person making it. So Luis saying he does not consider it a racist remark makes no difference - if Evra was offended by it then it is deemed racist. Luis should have kept his mouth shut.
ReplyDeleteexcept the article is total rubbish.
ReplyDeleteIt's taking a long time because it's pretty clear he can't be found guilty, when he uses a word that isn't an issue and even has restaurants named with it!
However, they have to show they've conducted an exhaustive study of the situation (including adding a panel member to examine the linguistic differences, which probably entails him going to Uruguay!) so that ManUre can't question the process - which they will have no hesitation in doing if they can, being quite immune to redress from their many not unheard of vocals.
The idea that they would mix the charges is beyond ludicrous, not that it's a surprise here.
So Jack, using your logic if I say that you offend me with your opinions and I think that you are a racist then you should be considered a racist! Don't think that logic holds water. One must consider the intent of the one who is making the remarks.
ReplyDeleteapparently, the epithet used against Evra by Suarez is the same one used by Ronaldo towards him when they were team mates, at which he took no offence. However, when someone he dislikes, for being on the team of his arch rivals, uses it, Evra is suddenly outraged. You can't have it both ways. I suspect that he was well trained by whiskey nose in how to deflect attention from how poorly manure were playing against the mighty reds
ReplyDeleteIQ of this article's writer is between 90 and 101.
ReplyDeleteWell, even if I agree to your logic, there is no way the FA knew he is going to flip a finger at the Fulham fans at the time of charging him. So what was the FA's thinking ?? Were they -
ReplyDelete1.) Hopeful that suarez would f**k up again and we'll nab him then.
2.) Or are they secretly in contact with Suarez and advising him to do such things while also having Dalglish keep up appearances by having a go at the FA time and again.
I n this article we are expected to believe that we should be happy with Q uite obvious bias against Liverpool and foreign players.
ReplyDelete101 reasons why that is ridiculous.
Yogi; Absolutely 'spot on'
ReplyDeleteNot according to the law I'm afraid. Ask any HR person and you will be told the same. It does not matter if you do not consider your remark racist - if the hearer does he can make a complaint.
ReplyDelete