The world likes nothing more than an idiot to make us all feel better about ourselves. The World Cup has duly delivered. An otherwise intelligent, multi-lingual, footballer, has debased the game, and himself, despite twice before facing the world’s censure.
I feel for Italy, who should have seen an opponent sent off before they conceded the goal which put them out of the tournament, for Giorgio Chiellini, the victim of the assault, and manager Cesare Prendelli, who resigned after leading a large nation to failure in a group which Uruguay and Costa Rica progressed from. Few in our game are selfless enough to resign from any job, so he deserves credit, but the prevailing narrative on the offender sits uncomfortably.
Instead of asking “Why?” the most obvious question is “Why did anyone think he wouldn’t?”
A man loses control of his emotions, gets angry and reacts in an inexplicable way he has repeatedly done so before, despite calmly delivered assurances he would never do so again. It’s not exactly a unique human tale.
What if he was a wife beater, would anyone be surprised? Some men repeatedly lose control, get angry and indulge in an inexplicable act of violence against the person they are most dependent on (women have been known to regularly ‘lose it’ too, of course).
I don’t know what the treatment programme for wife beaters is, but I’m pretty sure it’s completely separate from any punishment. Does fear of punishment, condemnation, or of hurting yourself or your loved ones, matter the instant before an attack? I suspect not.
Suarez is not repeatedly beating a helpless victim, so I’m not equating him with those who do, but his case is more difficult to resolve. You can tell a wife beater not to get drunk (etc.), but Suarez’ trigger is the tension which arises on the football field. He will feel this tension again and we should expect him to react in the same uncontrollable way. In fact, opponents are now more likely to provoke him, so, if anything, the rate of incidence is likely to increase.
Like the bully who is not fit to be alone with his loved ones, Suarez is literally not fit to be on a football field. To protect him, and others, from himself, he should be removed from the game until that rage is under control. This may also rob him of his mojo, which is a very great pity.
The other narrative of the week is that the game should not only value people who lose control of their emotions but should put them in charge, as it takes anger to get results. Watch the adherents to this doctrine line up to condemn the logical conclusion of their strategy.
Dreadful news that David Taylor, one of our own, former SFA chief executive and latterly one of the top men at Uefa, died. Our condolences to his family.
I was delighted when Greece were awarded an injury time penalty when needing a goal against Ivory Coast but the trauma when Georgios picked up the ball! Things are still raw…. Fortunately Georgios is not prone to letting his emotions get out of check. The coolest man on the planet acted like he was training at Lennoxtown. So pleased for him.
Cast your memory back to the “Greek tragedy” goading the player received from ITV commentators during World Cup 2010, based on his limited exposure at Manchester City. They’ve all learned now.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Celtic Graves raffle, which was drawn by Celtic FC Foundation chief exec, Tony Hamilton. First name out of the Celtic carrier bag and winner of Scott Brown’s boot was Edward John Gavin Whyte. Second name out and winner of Virgil Van Dijk’s boot was Erin McCafferty.
Just over £1,000 was raised and half of this will go to the hospice who looked after Wee Oscar.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.
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From Lionroars67`s squad I would say the guaranteed players are:
Forster
Lustig , Ambrose,van Djik; Izaguirre.
Brown, Johansen
Commons
My team would be:
Forster
Lustig Ambrose van Djik Izaguirre
Brown Biton Johansen
Commons
Forrest Griffiths.
Twardzik could start the season whilst Izzi recuperates . Likewise, Charlie for Efe. Alternatively, in a 4 4 2 formation, Forrest on the bench and Charlie left of midfield.
Both elevens look quite good to me.
JJ
If anyone needs another reason for voting aye in the referendum then you only have to look at the hacking scandal and the corruption at the core of Westminster politics over the last decade
From Blair to Cameron courting Rupert Murdoch to gain political advantage through the News International media has been the norm.
Cameron chose to ignore the warnings from all around him because power meant more to him than the integrity of Andy Coulson a criminal he brought into the heart of government
Cameron hired Coulson to help him get the working class Sun voter onside and by doing so ignored the hacking allegations
Cameron and Osborne the top 2 men in UK politics endorsed a criminal to help them gain power think about that when you make your vote
freedom.csc
jamesgang
ACGR is likely to be a less frequent visitor next season. I might drive down on occasions and would have given you a lift.
JJ
Twists n turns
9:07
There were far too many mentions of ‘Wednesday” in the article you posted.
macjay1
Luis Suarez is as guilty as O.J. Simpson.
JJ
Embdae know if tge Reykjavik ties have been switched ?
*the
IGC @ 9:46
Well spotted 0:-)
JJ
Hi Jungle Jim, How is the Golf going. I disagree re sufficient evidence. He can be clearly seen bringing his face down on the shoulder and if there are teeth mark bruises on shoulder, I think any jury can fairly assume that he did bite. The fact that he has previous form for this type of behaviour should be the clincher. I have no doubt he will get a hefty International ban.
!! Bada Bing!!
I thought you had learned Icelandic!
Jungle Jim
09:47 on
26 June, 2014
I know,mate.
Repetitive,compulsive behaviour.
JJ- :))
JJ
‘Would have’. Past tense!
;-)
HH jamesgang
corkcelt
Most unusual for any golfer to admit but I am playing quite well, thanks 0:-) What about yourself?
I, too, am certain that he is guilty but that is very different from being found so. See my O.J comment at 9:47.
JJ
Jungle Jim
09:43 on
26 June, 2014
I suspect Mulgrew and Brown will be the first two names in the teamsheet, likewise for WGS and scotland
JJ-from last night-JJ- The board have scaremongered (hope that’s a word) the support about the death of the hun through reckless spending,total nonsense of course.If PL says it’s vital to qualify for the CL,why don’t we give ourselves the best possible chance in doing so? We need a striker,a back up LB for Izzy, a playmaker from midfield IMO HH
The teeth marks were photoshopped !
I must admit if they have its a very good job
The video of the lunge the jaw opening and clamping shut on a players shoulder was not faked
Now if Suarez was gumsy one could maybe consider the teeth marks were fabricated
Alas Suarez has a fine set of gnashers so one would reasonably expect once clamped shut on flesh their would be marks
Maybe Suarez defence could be he only sooked the players shoulder
Corkcelt
JJ lives in a part of the land where that sort of behaviour is considered normal.
Mrs jamesgang hails from there too. You should me mhate. Bites, bruises, the lot. I look like a half eaten kebab on a night out in Derry!
;-)
HH jamesgang
jamesgang
09:14 on 26 June, 2014
I know biting is wrong. I know punching is wrong. But as someone who spent many years on a rugby pitch (didn’t hear the final whistle- boom boom) I’d struggle not to wet myself if the next bite victim didn’t deck him and knock out his 2 front teeth leaving him the poster boy for steradent.
That said, peace up Timdom.
HH jamesgang
——————————-
It surprises me that nobody’s decked him so far. Not that I condone that sort of thing.
FIFA have a tricky decision to make. If they ban him for an extended period it would affect his value.
I make him wear a gum shield for the remainder of the World Cup.
:-)
Jim, Went through a very bad period with the Golf for 5 or 6 weeks but its starting to come back. Had 40 pts on Wed., my best round of the year and I missed 3 short putts as well. Can’t wait to get out tomorrow to see if I can keep it going or whether Wed. was a flash in the pan.
HH jamesgang , LOL
jamesgang
Yes. Past tense as in I will be zooming past Dunblane !
Lionroars67
What would your selection be?
BB
`scaremongered` will do for me! I do not agree, though. I think most people can see that spending as Rangers did ,did led to their demise. Can`t see why you think it is nonsense.
I agree that we should give ourselves the best chance. The problem is in how to do that. I believe we already have a striker in Griffiths,back up in Twardzik and a playmaker in Biton. How much would we have to gamble,and it would be a gamble,to improve on what we already have?
I genuinely believe that if Ronny and Johnny can get the best out of our players, we already have a group capable of reaching and performing in the Group Stages.
JJ
Jungle Jim,
Your chosen team would be mine with just one change, watt in for forrest.
That’s quite a big squad right enough. Some depth needed in defence maybe but lustig and mulgrew can cover Central. Feel uncomfortable leaving mulgrew and Matthews out the starting eleven but think lustig and johanson merit a start and I reckon biton could be the rock to build our team on
Does anyone know if the £1.5m ‘solidarity payment’ the league receives due to Celtic’s performance in the CL comes off the money Celtic made or is a seperate amount from Uefa?
Jungle Jim
10:04 on
26 June, 2014
Forster
Lustig Ambrose Van Dijk Izzaguire
Brown Mulgrew Johanson
Commons Stokes Forest
corkcelt
I read that as 40 `putts` so was surprised it was your best round 0:-) !
Anyway, off for a short bike ride .
…and don`t listen to that jamesgang fella. He is just becoming all yuppified now that Dunblane is, apparently, going to become all chic. Whatever that means in
Dunblane 0:-)
Cheerio for now.
JJ
The public utterances of the Uruguayan FA, and their strident defence of Suarez, has a familiar tone. Photoshopped pics they say.
They should be taken to task for their outrageous claims.
However, theres nothing they could teach the SFA.
Suarez needs the help of mental health professionals….the Uruguayan FA and their spokesmen are blatantly lying…..disgusting.
Yeah…no doubt, football is corrupt to the core.
HH
The squad is big enough but there are question marks over the likes of Amido & Derk to name two as to whether they deserve to be there. The fact that there is a new Management team will mean there are no favourites and I’ll be surprised and disappointed if one or two of last years fringe players don’t make the breakthrough and get extended run on the team.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
09:41 on
26 June, 2014
hoopy-do
09:26 on
26 June, 2014
And what,señor,was your motivation in ,as you so delightfully put it,”trying to put your head on the defender`s shoulder.”
What induced this sudden display of apparent affection?
Pray tell.
The jury is waiting.
Guilty as charged,m`lud.
:-)
———————
Just for the avoidance of doubt, ive no doubt rat boy is as guilty as sin and i dont like him anyway, never have
Im just thinking what i would be doing if i was trying to get away with it, my motto is deny everything – in the style of Baldrick and George in the Speckled Jim incident!!
I didnt say his shoulder heading would be a gesture of affection, but saying you tried to header someones shoulder is a better crime that biting
Case dismissed!!
Nope Jim, 40 Stableford points but my putting is erratic at the best of times, so 40 putts is not as mad as you might think. Its the bloody 3 & 4 footers that kill me, no matter what I have in my head when I line them up, I end up stabbing at the ball rather than stroking it. Its an involuntary movement, I guess a bit like Suarez biting.
Thindimebhoy
09:44 on 26 June, 2014
‘If anyone needs another reason for voting aye in the referendum……….yada, yada, yada,’
####
You’re now starting to sound desperate.
And it’s not like Salmond hasn’t been trying to get into bed with Murdoch.
‘Alex Salmond ties to Murdoch revealed’
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/apr/25/alex-salmond-rupert-murdoch-ties
JJ- the chances of Celtic going the same way as Oldco is nil,and always has been IMO.The Board are basically saying,give us your ST money,if we don’t get to CL we won’t be improving the squad.So we will be standing still,or going backwards.We could well do with offloading a few though.I look forward to a different style of football from Ronny and John,but if we don’t qualify ,the attendances will be worse than last season.All i am saying is get a couple of guys in ,that will make it easier to qualify.A chicken and egg situation for some.Hope you are well.HH
Ernie Lynch
Ernie….they all got/get into bed with Murdoch…check Tom Watsons views of Blair and his involvement with Murdoch.
Salmond, Blair, Cameron…..they were all at it.
At this point Ernie…..Im rolling out the virtual guillotine for the whole political class:)
They are corrupt to the core…..The lot of them.
Independence….Yeah, from politicians.
HH
One thing we can be sure of is that FIFA, after examining all the evidence, will deal with the case in a transparent manner and act, without fear or favour, in the best interests of the Game.
On the home front.
I hope that with R ‘n’ J’s coaching, we uncover the player that I feel is lurking inside Pukki’s jersey.
PS.
I hope that player is Messi!
Once it’s proven (not difficult!) then banning LS from international Football for a couple of years and fining him will not act any kind of deterrent whatsoever.
To really impact and ensure proper control is gained then FIFA should ban Uruguay and reinstate Italy. Harsh I know but would it not get things sorted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KINGLuBO
My mate was watching footage of Tuesday’s training on Celtic TV. Said Ronny was very much “hands on” out in the middle with the senior players getting involved and pointing and gesticulating a lot. Johnny appeared to be taking the younger players.
ernie lynch
Very weak whitabootery there old chap
You can hardly compare hiring a criminal with access to No 10 to Salmond meeting Murdoch on the odd occasion and lets face it he wasn’t given the keys to the door of the Scottish parliament’s cabinet office
And how many times do people have to tell you just because people will vote aye does not mean they are SNP voters
There will be a Scottish general election after a yes vote now how good does that sound
No doubt folk in Croydon will lose interest by then
KINGLUBO
Nice idea. That will never happen though. Opens a huge can of worms.
LB
You know that you are getting old when you are no longer the youngest at mid-week mass… TBM