It seems Luis Suarez has done it again. Not content with the more obscure cuisines of Serbian (Branislav Ivanovic) and Dutch (Otman Bakkal), Suarez went mainstream by apparently taking a nibble on the Italian shoulder of Giorgio Chiellini.
The uproar has been instant, and inevitable.
His priors saw him banned for seven and ten games respectively. If found guilty, Suarez will most likely become the new record holder for longest ban in World Cup history (currently eight games, handed to Mauro Tassotti in 1994 for elbowing).
That may not be enough for some – Danny Mills has called for “the longest ban on the planet”, which according to FIFA can be 24 games or two years. Going further, my Facebook feed observed the odd “banned for life” status, and commenters on The Roar have been in favour of a lengthy ban.
Clearly, Suarez’s bites have elicited a lot of anger in the football community. This is certainly not an article of defence, but it is one of curiosity.
What is it, fellow Roarers, that makes biting so abhorrent?
Suarez did not racially abuse Chiellini – a crime considered worthy of eight matches on the pine to Suarez himself, and four to John Terry.
Suarez did not scythe Chiellini to the point of knee surgery ala Kevin Muscat on Adrian Zahra – deemed to be worth eight weeks as well.
He didn’t break Chiellini’s nose – as the aforementioned Tassotti did to Spain’s Luis Enrique.
One could argue that it comes close to spitting as a form of degradation – the A-League judiciary judged it to be worth five weeks to Dino Djulbic and six (on appeal) to Ney Fabiano, both in 2008.
Switching sports, in 2002 AFL player Peter Filandia received a 10-match ban for biting (and perforating) the scrotum of Chad Davis while playing for Port Melbourne in the VFL. In comparison, Suarez’ bite has the menace of a kiss on the cheek.
So what makes a bite so bad?
Are bad tackles more excusable because they are illegal extensions of a legal act? Is being bitten more or less degrading than being the target of saliva or a slur? Is there a ranking of offence that takes into account intent and injury and produces a ban? Is the uproar because it is the third time Suarez has done it?
Biting in any sport is a ridiculous act that should be punished – even more so in football, when the ball is at one’s feet and mouthguards are deemed unnecessary. But at the same time, I would rather be bitten than greatly insulted or in need of a hospital bed.
At the risk of starting some arguments – what’s it worth, and why?
Richard
Roar Guru
He seemed to have marks on his shoulder in the photo I saw. Let's face it Suarez is an absolute tosser.
AR
Guest
Is there an echo in here..?
Batou
Guest
I couldn't agree more with the disrespect of referees. This is an area where football could learn a lot from Rugby Union I reckon. (I guess that means I'll be stripped of my True Believer status now....)
Simoc
Guest
You obviously haven't seen it! There was an Italian shirt between the teeth and the skin.
Simoc
Guest
Humans are animals. Haven't you noticed. Suarez gives the journos easy headlines but it is way overdone as an offence. Breaking bones is worse. He is Cantona like in bizarre behaviour but nevertheless a fantastic player and maybe the best in the world currently when fit.
Steele
Guest
Just give him a week off, surely the international ridicule is enough. I don't think anyone's been traumatised.
Rco
Guest
Although innocent until proven guilty it does not look good. The sad thing is the guy is an immense talent and unfortunately makes crap split second desicions. He needs to wake up and realise that he is a role model to not only youngsters in his homeland but worldwide. My oldest boy (7) loves the guy and I can see the appeal. He is lethal infront of goal. But he is no role model for young fans as the biting stuff is just not on. Regardless of whether he did it or not this time his history makes it hard to find him innocent based on video footage. I hope whatever happens he finally realises there are alot of young footballers out there all wanting to be like Suarez. He needs to take that on board. On a seperate note the diving in this tournament and rolling around like a spear has just been rammed through your guts is just ridiculous. It only seems to be getting worse. I am all for aftermatch reviews on this unsportsmanlike behaviour resulting in suspensions. It needs to be cut out of the game. This is not even considering the blatant disrespect to referees. This has been a pet hate if mine in football for a long time. I can think of no other sport where players approach referees mouthing off when they feel aggrieved and at very worst get a yellow card which is very rare. In most other sports this behaviour would earn an instant penalty to the player, if not complete ejection from the game. This kind of behaviour should result in no less than an instant yellow card with red cards for players who just won't let it go which is becoming more common in the game.
James
Guest
Ok, cool.
BennO
Guest
Because in the normal human world, only toddlers bite in anger. That's humans under 3 or 4 years old. To have an adult bite is pathetic beyond words. My initial reaction is one of scorn (increased exponentially by his pathetic simulation that began once he saw the Italian go down, with the ceremonial hands-over-my-face move and climaxed with him clutching at his teeth). Seriously, that's pathetic. My final reaction beyond the scorn is a growing sense of disdain for this person. Biting and eye gouging are in a different league from other dastardly acts, though they are also separate in and of themselves. Both are cowardly, immature, bizarre and pathetic. And both deserve more severe punishments than other acts (depending on the severity of said other acts of course). Punching is thuggish but is considered a grown up's way to fight, and I think I'm socially constrained to feel that way too. I really want to like football because I love watching it ebb and flow. The skills are sublime and it truly is beautiful to watch. But when players simulate so often, in such a ridiculous manner, I lose respect for them and I lose interest in watching them play. Unfortunately I get frustrated and turn it off. It's like watching kids run to their parents to dob on their friends, who actually haven't done anything wrong. This bite business takes that higher.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Looks like Giorgio Chiellini is really traumatised by the incident. Here he is with a waitress in Brasil as Italy prepare to head home. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BrCYTjQIcAA6jBv.jpg
Richard
Roar Guru
Big issue might be the exchange of body fluids which takes place when someone bites someone else, do you think? It is possible to transmit HIV, or hepatitis, or any number of infectious diseases. I'm been a big fan of Suarez. As a football player he's a genius. As a sportsman he is a complete moron. As a person, he's a child. You'd think he would have learned by now. He needs a firm hand. And Liverpool should sell him for that 73 million pounds, if it's still on the table.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Leigh Matthews was suspended for only 4 weeks for a disgusting, cowardly act - punching a player when he wasn't looking; breaking his jaw. The act was so abhorrent, the Victoria Police took the unprecedented step of charging the player with assault & he was convicted in the Magistrates Court of Victoria.
AR
Guest
Ian, you're confusing 2 different arguments, which are: - all manner of incidents happen in every sport; and - my favourite sport is better than your favourite sport. Ignore the 2nd argument. For the 1st argument, Leigh Matthews was criminally charged for that incident, de-registered and fined. So if you're suggesting that very serious incident was somehow swept under the carpet, you'd be a touch off. Further, Matthews being a good player, as Suarez is, has nothing to do with the incident or the disciplinary action taken.
nordster
Guest
Dental hygiene? No picks or floss handy, so....
Colly
Roar Pro
"Biting someone anywhere should result in the same sanction." Should it though? I suppose this is the crux of my curiosity - Alex Song elbows Mandzukic in the back and gets a 3 game ban, whilst Tassotti breaks a man's nose with his elbow and gets 8. Granted, there are 20 years between the incidents, but there still seems a grading for severity. Same with Muscat on Zahra - he wouldn't have gotten 8 weeks for a nasty challenge that didn't require Zahra to have surgery. Discussing this with people, we seem to reach the conclusion that biting is a mix of the unneccessary, but also the insubstantial. It seems harsh to rub a guy out for ages for something that Chiellini won't be feeling 10 minutes later, but at the same time, its such a bizarre and against-the-spirit-of-the-game act that needs to be severely punished so it doesn't become commonplace. And of course Suarez is a repeat offender which makes it all the more bizarre - I like the suggestion of education. But then again, I also like the suggestion that he should wear a mouthguard so that any future nibbles just bounce off the skin. Thanks for commenting!
nordster
Guest
Rub him out for the rest of the tournament, punishment enough. I mean he bit an Italian defender so there's mitigating circumstances there for a striker. ;)
Colly
Roar Pro
I can understand that - repeat offending should get a bigger punishment because he obviously doesn't learn. Out of interest, what if it was a first offender who had a brainsnap, instead of Suarez - a cleanskin like Philipp Lahm for instance?
Hannibal Lecter
Guest
hmm, fava beans!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"Any other sport and he’d be rubbed for life by now." Really? Is that what happens when a player punches/elbows an opponent & breaks their jaw in other sports? What do Rugby/League players get for a mimicking a proctologist on the field? Life ban ... or, bit of a giggle in the locker room? What have AFL players got for eye gouging, which can blind an opponent? Life ban?
Lachlan Doyle
Roar Pro
He made himself look like a complete idiot when he went down holding onto his teeth. He deserves to be banned from this world cup at least.