After his ridiculous bite antics this week, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez is now serving a deserved 4-month ban, which is a fitting punishment for a serial offender with absolutely no respect for the rules that govern the hideously ugly beautiful game. Retrospective action against players is an effective way of ensuring the integrity of the game, but if the Suarez incident is worthy of further analysis, why are FIFA seemingly ignoring Mamadou Sakho's blatant elbow against Ecuador's Oswaldo Minda?
In the 7th minute of France's clash with Ecuador, Sakho - seemingly with deliberate intent - elbowed Minda in the face.
The evidence is conclusive:
This is one of the most blatant elbows I've seen in a long time, and it's just sheer luck that Minda escaped a broken nose (or worse).
Like biting, an elbow to the face is violent conduct, and whilst it's not as sensationalised as quasi-cannibalism, it's still a serious incident.
After the game, angry Ecuador boss Reinaldo Rueda slammed Sakho for his behaviour. He told reporters:
“That [the elbow] was shameful and it must be considered by the Disciplinary Committee,”
When asked about the incident, Sakho explained:
"It [the elbow] was to protect me. By jumping, it makes me nudge him. Perhaps it can be dangerous, it could open up the game. If they [FIFA] think I deserve [punishment], they will make their decision"
Sakho basically admits here that he deliberately elbowed Minda in the face, but he tries to justify with a lame excuse about 'protecting' himself. Perhaps it's just me, but I'm pretty sure using the elbow is NOT a valid or accepted form of defending.
In my view, there's no excuse for FIFA to ignore this issue, or indeed other World Cup elbowing incidents (Giroud, anyone?) The video evidence is crystal clear: Sakho elbowed Minda in the face, and the nature of the incident suggests some form of deliberate intent.
Like Suarez, Sakho deserves a ban, and retrospective punishment for elbowing, diving, cheating etc needs to become the norm in football.
Author: Jaimie K
In the 7th minute of France's clash with Ecuador, Sakho - seemingly with deliberate intent - elbowed Minda in the face.
The evidence is conclusive:
This is one of the most blatant elbows I've seen in a long time, and it's just sheer luck that Minda escaped a broken nose (or worse).
Like biting, an elbow to the face is violent conduct, and whilst it's not as sensationalised as quasi-cannibalism, it's still a serious incident.
After the game, angry Ecuador boss Reinaldo Rueda slammed Sakho for his behaviour. He told reporters:
“That [the elbow] was shameful and it must be considered by the Disciplinary Committee,”
When asked about the incident, Sakho explained:
"It [the elbow] was to protect me. By jumping, it makes me nudge him. Perhaps it can be dangerous, it could open up the game. If they [FIFA] think I deserve [punishment], they will make their decision"
Sakho basically admits here that he deliberately elbowed Minda in the face, but he tries to justify with a lame excuse about 'protecting' himself. Perhaps it's just me, but I'm pretty sure using the elbow is NOT a valid or accepted form of defending.
In my view, there's no excuse for FIFA to ignore this issue, or indeed other World Cup elbowing incidents (Giroud, anyone?) The video evidence is crystal clear: Sakho elbowed Minda in the face, and the nature of the incident suggests some form of deliberate intent.
Like Suarez, Sakho deserves a ban, and retrospective punishment for elbowing, diving, cheating etc needs to become the norm in football.
panel management
Author: Jaimie K
An elbow to the face is worst but a bite is just filthy
ReplyDeleteNot sticking up for Suarez or Sakho here Jaimie, does this mean you belive that Cheillini should also be punished for his elbow on Suarez after being bitten? Everyone I've spoken to has stood up for Chiellini but I believe that retaliation should also be punished, what's your view?
ReplyDeleteChiellini didn't elbow Suarez. There's no evidence of that.
ReplyDeleteSent from Samsung Mobile
To be on the safe side FIFA should just ban the entire Liverpool squad for 4 months
ReplyDeleteYeah, prevention is always the best cure.
ReplyDeleteThe cause of both these incidents and many others like them is holding or trapping by defenders, our own skrtel is a master at it and it needs to stop...
ReplyDeleteBites, elbows, holding and diving. These are killing our game and its time for referees took a stand and dragged the beautiful game back out of the toilet
You see him do it straight after Suarez bit him!? No evidence.. Good one!
ReplyDeleteAgree also shirt pulling - those little tugs that unbalance or hold back a player - loads of that this WC
ReplyDeletePlease provide evidence of this alleged elbow. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'm went for the bite on this one. At least Sakho could've said he was trying to shrug him off and didn't notice how short he was...
ReplyDeleteThe bruise under Suarez's eye!?? You didn't see that interview or pictures?
ReplyDeleteIt's not an 'elbow' in the sense the original poster seems to be suggesting. Sakho's offence is clearly deliberate; a quasi-cannibal took a chunk out of Chiellini's arm, and he reacted with shock, and tried to shake off the offender.
ReplyDeleteWell that is your interpretation of it. I am not defending the indefensible here with Suarez but he clearly swings him arm in retaliation. Similar to Sakho in some ways but perhaps more justified.
ReplyDeleteDo you not think it odd that Chielini thinks the ban is excessive yet a Liverpool supporter does not?
Being bitten, as sinful as it is, doesn't hurt enough for a full grown man to sling himself to the floor and roll around in agony. That's why I find it hard to believe it was just a legitimate attempt to free the clutches of pistoleros pearly whites.
ReplyDeleteIn Chiellini case though, I think it was more of a reaction along the lines of "Get off of my shoulder" rather than anything else.
ReplyDeleteI think you are right there. There seems, to me at least, to be an element of that in the Sakho elbow, although from looking at it a bit more aggressive and purposeful.
ReplyDeleteJamie your such a cock
ReplyDeleteAh, yes. When Saint Suarez bites, it doesn't hurt. How could it? He's an LFC hero, and such revered deities are not capable of causing any real harm.
ReplyDeleteThere is a direct causal link between the bite and Chiellini's reaction; you see that, right? No bite = no reaction.
Word from the Echo is we are still looking at Markovic. This is surely a sign that Suarez is gone. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteIt's more probable that Chiellini's reaction is instinctive. Do you really think he had time to think 'right, I'm going to retaliate now!'. If you were walking down the street and some nutcase bit you on the shoulder from behind, how would you react?
ReplyDeleteI would try to elbow him and there would be some thought there quite quickly. I'm saying Chielini reacted in that way. I might have misinterpreted but I thought that is what jimbob was saying.
ReplyDeleteHow else is one supposed to shake off a cannibal attack? Perhaps Chiellini should've just politely requested that Suarez extract his teeth and back away...
ReplyDeleteI have looked in my observer book of cannibals and the best way of fending off an attack is to pretend to be dead. Ideally long dead, as they prefer fresh meat. Apparently violent movements might only serve to antagonise them.
ReplyDeleteI take it you haven't been bitten in anger then? It is extremely painful and if skin is broken, the threat of infection is great which could in turn lead to further complications. I must be one of the minority who would rather be struck in the traditional sense than bitten or spat on.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm encouraging attacks on my person!
A bite is significantly worse only because there has to be some sort of mindfulness to even try it.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who has played a sport knows that it doesn't take much to elbow someone (whether intentionally or unintentionally), and it doesn't take a lot of thought. It's a natural motion to create space (right or wrong).
But to bite someone, it's not a natural reaction. It's going out of one's way to hurt someone.
He flailed and caught Suarez. Wasn't really an elbow. Probably hurt Suarez a bit, probably somewhat intentional. Chiellini deserves no sanction though. It was a pretty acceptable reaction to being bitten and wasn't an overtly dangerous move.
ReplyDeleteI've got some thoughts.
ReplyDeleteOne from the top of my head: does Batman have a different Batsuit for summer, or does he just feel hot all season? Alternatively, is he cool during summer but has to wear long johns under the suit in winter?
A lot of short pulling, which is even more ridiculous and should be easier to spot. I have some sympathy for the refs during tussles in the box.but I don't think they've done an especially good job of disciplining that kind of behaviour.
ReplyDeleteJaimie you sound just like Suarez. In my view chiellini did elbow Suarez
ReplyDeleteA true bite yes. When someone really wants to bite you they can. I work with vulnerable and sometimes challenging adults and have been bitten and it's clear when they want to or not. Maybe Chielini knew Suarez was really going to clamp down. Apparently a human bite can be one of the worst for infection but my experience has only ever had bruising/slight clotting. I have also been hit in the nose. Neither are nice. If I was to pick? nose is slightly quicker but depends on the grip of the bite and where. My nose or any bone has never been broken and so I can't really say for sure. A smack in the nose makes you temporarily blind though so that can be worse. The fear when getting bitten can be bad though thinking about it, that unknown of the outcome. So you might have a good point there.
ReplyDeleteC'mon? Are you being serious? Batman has a different suite for all seasons. Also a smart/smart casual and wedding suite. Not to mention holiday batsuite and leisure batsuite for chilling by the pool. I am not certain but I am pretty sure he has a prom batsuite too. I know when I met him he the suite was more checkered on the bottom and cotteny on the top with the top of the head a flat kind of style. I introduced myself and he said "I'm golf batman". His swimming batsuite left little to the imagination. Apart from his face. But who is looking there right lads? Right? Lads? Lads?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Suarez has any kind of pre thought before biting someone. If he did he would think "OH WAIT i GET BANNED FOR AGES FOR THIS DON'T I?". I din't mean to use capitals but thats what you get I been drinkin.
ReplyDeleteIf Batman was in his Speedos, first thing I'd do is see how I measure up. Be a pretty good ice-breaker if I could tell people (and I mean anyone, not just women) "You know...my package is bigger than the Batman's."
ReplyDeleteIn your dreams
ReplyDeleteAgree 100%.
ReplyDeleteWhat followed though with all the rolling around on the floor was less defensible and largely and probably rightly overlooked in all the furore over that bite.
A few points here.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, bravo to Jaimie for not jumping on the Suarez situation over the last fewdays to generate hits etc. This clearly reinforces what the agenda here is. Jaime writes about items that interest hum. The coverage elsewhere is over the top, perhaps understandably.
My tuppence worth is this.. ...
- the bite was ridiculous, but an impulsive, and ultimately self destructive, act. Rooney kicks people, Big Dunc head butted, different players respond differently to their impulses, but biting is shocking
- dismissal from the World Cup, with massive fine - 4 months wages could have sufficed. I suspect that FIFA see how close they are to breaking America, 27 million viewers for last game, so there is an element of PR to this. The lack of a consideration for treatment in the sentence is pathetic, but unsurprising, from FIFA. Also the removal of Suarez from football environs is unfair and disproportionate. I reject a reduction in these sanctions after appeal, once Chiellini and FIFpro have their say
- Suarez should now be sold for a fee as close to the release clause as possible
- Costa head butt, Assou Ekotto head butt, Sakho elbow, Giroud elbow all went unpunished for some reason. On the spot video evidence would resolve a vast majority of these issues.
Good points, Simon. Uruguay have appealed the sentence, so it's possible certain aspects of it may be modified. Perhaps FIFA gave out such a harsh sentence (privately) expecting to have to change it on appeal. That way, they look like they're taking a hard line.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate you acknowledging the lack of Suarez-specific posts since the bite incident occurred. If I wanted to, I could've - like practically every other site on earth - had a field day posting stuff related to the incident, but as you note, it's not really that interesting to me. Plus, I am not - as people insist - 'anti-Suarez'.if I was, I'd be using this incident to endlessly stick the knife in.
An elbow is just the same "going out of one's way to hurt someone". It's ok because it's easier to sneak in? You can deceive a ref with it? Nah - can't buy this argument.
ReplyDeleteAn intentional foul is an intentional foul - the degree, or potential degree of the foul is what matters. What's the difference between a bite and elbow if they're both intentional?
I hope they only modify the aspects relating to training and attending football matches. The rest should stand imo otherwise it will look like they are bowing to the pressure exerted by a largely unrepentant Uruguay.
ReplyDeleteI'll give it to you, your at least consistent.
ReplyDeleteElbow is worse than bite (at least any of the last few we've seen - Suarez X3, Defoe). Will a bite is disconcerting, and cause a WTF moment, it's brushed off relatively quickly.
An elbow can break a nose, jaw, cheekbone, lip, possibly a rib. Even it it doesn't break anything, an elbow to the nose can cause an immediate gush of tears and disorientation that given an advantage to the player marking the elbowee. If it draws blood, then the bleeder has to go off for treatment, putting them down to 10 men.
As for retaliatory fouls, as long as they are immediate - less than seconds apart, and proportionate, they're ok. In this case if Chiellini hit Suarez for the bit - it's tit for tat, probably not the worst thing in the world.
But now FIFA has embarked on something that is a slippery slope - or otherwise already had designs for. Video review, if applied to 1 should be applied to all. But why now, they have their poster boy - they need nothing more. They don't like going after French or Brazilians
Three bloody times.......
ReplyDeleteI'm not denying or defending that. My point is that if FIFA are going to be applying video review, they should apply it consistently. This might be the end result, and may fundamentally change the game - but for now it appears that 1 incident is subject to review, while dozens more are overlooked - Is this fair play?
ReplyDeleteFair point . I agree reviews should be used more widely and consistently and that the punishment for deliberate assaults should be greater.
ReplyDeleteI don't though accept the punishment meted out to Suarez had anything to do with Nationality. I believe it was solely related to the nature of the incident and his past record. I don't know who was on the committee but I doubt it was just Brits or Europeans given the rightfully wide representation of Nations within FIFA.
I don't think it's case of what nationality he belongs to, rather which ones he or others do not belong to. Both disciplinary panels and officiating seem to take sides, be harsher on some groups than others.
ReplyDeleteTake ecaudor vs. France - Ecuadorians were elbowed in the face on at least two occasions - and Valencia wrongly sent off.
Brazil vs. Croatia - Neymar elbows Modric in the face - gets a yellow. They later go on to get a ludicrous penalty.
Zidane who made his second headbutt in the World Cup Final - did 3 days community service, and was awarded the Golden Ball.
And if you look at the English FA, same thing applies - punishment to Suarez is not equal to his british counterparts. Racial abuse Suarez 8 games, Racial abuse Terry 4 games. Biting Suarez 10 games - Biting Defoe - Yellow Card. Only longer ban in recent history is Barton - who elbowed Tevez, Kneed Aguero, and tried to headbutt Kompany in a game. You can argue the defoe incident was long ago - but long enough to count it in a different era of the game - things have not changed that much.
The fact that Suarez is from a small country of 3 million people definitely is a factor - as things go, we're a thorn in the side of FIFA - If Suarez were from England, France, Brazil, Spain, or Italy - the incident would probably be laughed off - "oh that crazy Suarez!"
All that to say - not that I don't think a punishment is deserved - it is.
ReplyDeleteBut justice should be applied fairly and equally - If you look at the justice systems of most first world countries - minorities are not treated equally by the eyes of justice.
Ha Ha you're probably right.
ReplyDeleteIf he'd been English they would probably have claimed it was an accident and he caught his face on his back as he fell over. What fun!
I agree generally but not in this particular case
ReplyDeleteYou really think the Batman is packing? Have you ever seen the Batmobile? That guy is compensating for something...
ReplyDeleteSorry twice and an unfortunate accident....:-)
ReplyDeleteYes, justice should be applied fairly, but most people use that as an excuse to disregard and trivialise Suarez's actions. Whether player X got deal with more leniently in the past is totally irrelevant to the issue at hand, which is Suarez bit someone for the *third* time, and got a fitting punishment for it.
ReplyDeleteI'm often undecided on fouls like this. While the player is clearly throwing an elbow behind him knowing the player is there it is, as Sakho describes, a move to partially defend yourself rather than simply attack another player. Suarez is unprovoked, barely even jostling with the defender, when he just aims his teeth at him. There is no contest, no reason for the action, no justification or even vague logic to it. In Sakho's case there is a player all over him. In a highly charged environment, if you throw yourself over the top of someone like that it's very hard to not react and push them away. If the player was in front of him he'd use his arms and just push. Since he's behind him the only action he can take is to throw his arm behind him. It's an instinctual thing, the human brain is not capable of forming the thought and making a conscious decision in that time frame. When someone gets physically on top of you the natural reaction is to push out, however you can, and I think that's what Sakho is saying. It's not a calculated move, it just looks like that when you slow it down. In real time the whole incident takes place in a second.
ReplyDeleteYes I've heard it's nothing special. But still.......
ReplyDeleteAll good - at least you're civil in your arguments/disagreements. Can't say the same for many.
ReplyDeletepast sanctions are totally relevant - otherwise how are you going to gage whether justice is applied equally?
ReplyDeleteIf otheres are given lenient sentances, and one individual given a more harsh one, it would suggest a disparity. Other incidents/sanctions/leniency are 100% completely relevant - in law it is what is referred to as "precedent".
But if Chiellini's reaction is instinctive, couldn't the Suarez bite be instinctive?? I wouldn't have thought he went on the pitch meaning to bite someone, or that it was a premeditated act. It seems that he has this reaction to certain situations, and has no control over it.
ReplyDeleteI bet if he agreed to hypnotism someone would find the root cause - maybe some traumatic event from childhood.
An elbow is an elbow, instintive or not. Plenty of players have been sent off for retaliation, this should have been no different.
All the Italians I spoke to before the game seemed to think Chiellini would try and break Suarez' legs. Pity he gave them chance to take the moral high ground really. Chiellini is a nutter, just as much as Suarez.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add that they seemed ok with this course of action. Funny that.
ReplyDeleteSpitting has to be worse because of the bodily fluid aspect.
ReplyDeleteHow long a ban did Rijkyard get??
He is probably a bit embarrassed. I think he just wanted him sent off = game won.
ReplyDeleteThen when the Ities got knocked out, he probably wanted Suarez kicked out of the tournament too. The ban from playing for LFC is nonesensical.
The worst premeditated act was the Song back-elbow.
ReplyDeleteThat was evil.
Physically an elbow is worse. But actually biting someone is worse IMO. The amount of elbows we've seen at this world cup is pretty ridiculous, or people claiming they were elbowed.
ReplyDeleteTo me this is just the usual hustle that always happens in the box. Sakho does take it to the next level, and it was a pretty nasty elbow.
but you see this kind of thing happen all the time, and go unpunished.
Like Strachen said, there are no morals in football.