Taking A Bite Out Of The FA, Suarez-Style

I’m sat awaiting the verdict of the FA panel’s inquest into Luis Suarez’s latest indiscretion. I am wondering what would actually make players realise that actions on the pitch – which have nothing to with football – are unacceptable and have no place.

You look around at the nature of the “bans” players receive, and you begin to wonder if a 6-7 game ban actually has the desired affect on the player and the club he represents. People forget this: the player is representing the club; and, more importantly, the fans who support that club. I am sure that fans would want their players to behave in a professional manner when wearing the club colours – and so it is for the clubs to be punished, as well, for the actions of their players.

However, it’s a fine line between punishing the club and player without punishing the fans.

First, let’s take a look at some of the bans dished out by the FA in the past:

• LUIS SUAREZ – banned for eight matches and fined £40,000 by the Football Association for racially abusing Patrice Evra
• ROY KEANE – Handed a five-week ban and a £150,000 fine in October 2002 for comments made about Alfie Haaland in his controversial autobiography
• ERIC CANTONA – Banned for nine months from football worldwide and ordered to do 120 hours community service as a result of his Kung-Fu kick on Crystal Palace fan, Matthew Simmons, in 1995
• MARK BOSNICH – Suspended for nine months in April 2003 after failing a drugs test for cocaine
• RIO FERDINAND – Banned for eight months in December 2003 after failing to take a drugs test in September of the same year
• PAOLO DI CANIO – The fiery Italian forward was handed an 11-game ban and £10,000 fine for pushing referee Paul Alcock while playing for Sheffield Wednesday in a Premier League match against Arsenal in September 1998
• DAVID PRUTTON – the Southampton midfielder was hit with a 10-game ban and fined £6,000 by the FA after shoving referee Alan Wiley following his red card in a match against Arsenal in 2005
• PAUL DAVIS – The Arsenal midfielder was banned for nine matches and fined £3,000 after punching Southampton’s Glenn Cockerill during a match in October 1988
• VINNIE JONES – Given a six-month ban suspended for three years in November 1992 – and fined a then record £20,000 by the FA – for his commentary in a video glorifying football violence and dirty tricks.

I’m sure you’ll all agree with me that none of these instances have a place in football and each is as disgusting as the other. But look at the disparity of the “bans.”  It would seem on-the-field instances are punished far more lightly than off-the-field activities. This doesn’t add up in my book.

Without wanting to open up a can of worms, Suarez should still not be able to play football after his comments directed to Evra, as well as his failure to deal with it properly in the aftermath. Has the player learned his lesson? Was it really a suitable punishment for the crime considering Ferdinand missed a drugs test and got nine months?

Is assault on a fan any different to assault on another player? Not in my book. Cantona kicked a fan famously – eight month ban. Paul Davies punched a fellow player and got nine measly matches. Both would be deemed as common assault and both should be punished with consistency.

It is time the FA started to dish out punishments that are a proper deterrent to some of the appalling incidents that happen on the football pitch. Some will argue that these occur so rarely that it isn’t really worth a massive change in policy; but, look at the ground swell of support for goal line technology, and how often will that be called in to action? What about the amount of adverse publicity that comes about from the actions of individuals? Suarez’s biting got more words on Tuesday than RVP’s stunning volley that won United the league trophy. This does matter. Ban the player for the season from all domestic competitions. Dish out a fine that’s in proportionality with their wages. Does £40k really hurt or deter Suarez?

It’s time the FA grew a pair and made it clear a football pitch is a place for football. Bad tackles, hand bags at dawn, and injuries will happen and can be dealt with by the existing system. Actions above this, that shame the game and embarrass its fans, need to be squashed beyond all recognition. Fans need to understand that these bans are not the FA’s fault; they are the result of the player’s actions and it is the player himself that must take the full responsibility and angst from the fans. Yet listen to the radio – how many Liverpool fans shamefully defend Suarez? One actually blamed it on the Chelsea player himself!

I am choosing to ignore UEFA’s “proposed” (which means won’t go through) ten-match ban for racist incidents on the field of play, whilst turning a complete blind eye to European clubs whose fans openly abuse black players – I’m looking at you, Spain – it’s a two way street, punishments must be swift and harsh no matter who you are or where you play.

Over to you, Lifers. What is a suitable punishment? By now we should know what Suarez has got. My prediction: seven games and £50k – 31 games too short.