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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Not condoning Suarezs actions at all here however laughing at Italian defenders complaining about it
In the excellent docu on the 1982 world cup Sean Connery narrates on Gentile “the silent assassin”
cynical tackling along with spitting were the trademark of many an Italian defender
Angry Man? how about a cynical attempt in a way no one expects to provoke the defender into giving away a penalty/being sent off. This moment of madness stuff is nonsense.
If Shankley was manager at Liverpool neither Suarez nor our other pal Diouf would have been there.
Missed out on top 30. I blame the bored & PL for this travesty.
(well they get blamed for everything else apart from weather in EK).
Yogi or Sammi? loved both but never saw cut in shoot for goal, ball goes for throw-in (shie, shy or whatever you want to call it)
The game, the game is over – the rebels have gone!
Every rebel needs a tyrant….
Goodbye – free staters.
hello Celts,
The enigma that is Sammi continues eh well done big man stickin away that penalty.That was pressure and i think the greeks may have a good chance to progress against Costa Rica.
MightyTim thoughts and prayers for your sister mate,really hope it goes well.
happy birth day to the 2 young ladies called Rhiannon,world Rhiannon day hehe :-)
ACGR hope your bud gets out safely as Iraq slides into chaos
DD hope your mam is improving,ktf
JamesGang, was it you i read who done the cross country walk last weekend?if so,well done some achievement,you got the weather for it eh,guess your still steepin the toes :-)
Saurez…what are you all about?
have a good day Celts,great news we are back in training,sad to see the annual cull of youth taking place but hopefully they will have the grounding to carry on their careers elsewhere
Smile we are Celts :-) :-)
HH
LIONROARS67
He was a pussycat.
The king of the hill in those days was The Butcher of Seville.
Goikotxhea,or summat like that.
Shocking player,even the huns would have knocked him back.
Suarez` history of biting opponents is fascinating. It would seem to be a very basic, animalistic response and the surprise is that so few other footballers behave in a similar fashion. Or do they but they are not high profile? Anyone know of other cases?
I can understand the clamour for a hefty ban but I cannot believe this will make any difference. Whatever primal trigger causes Suarez to react in this atavistic way will still be there after a ban. Also, I am not sure it can be seen as a deterrent to others who don`t seem to be programmed to bite in any case. Interesting.
JJ
We all (or mostly) love Sammi.
However, if he hadn’t tripped or been tripped, we all know he would have hit that chance into Row Z.
I’m still amazed that he scored from the penalty.
If a dog bites someone it gets put down. So could this be the solution to problem that is Suarez. Joking aside, I would ban him for life.
JUNGLE JIM
Some horses bite,some dogs bite. Pigs too.
Despite domestication.
But it is quite rare,despite being largely their only form of defence.
As humans,we have other forms of defence. Fists,feet,headbutt,or even just ridiculing the potential assailant. Last method,btw,usually leads to one of the other three,so not really recommended.
I’ve seen some dirty fighting in my time,and rarely abide by The Marquis of Queensbury Rules. But I’ve never seen anyone biting.
PeteTheBeat
12:51 on 25 June, 2014
I’m still amazed that he scored from the penalty.
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Yeah, he took it well, eh?
But, I’d rather he scored the pen at ibrokes.
What the hell do I know?
Oh,btw,I said that the funniest thing about the Suarez thing was the R2 news snippet.
I forgot about RYECATCHER defending him last night.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma
12:10 on 25 June, 2014
Hamilton Tim
Hmmm not sure I can agree with all of that Chris specifically the bit about Lawell’s mob being the most guilty of forgetting the club’s ethos and History.
For me the ethos of Walfrid and the original founders of the club was deliberately abandoned within 10 years of 1888 when the original incorporation took place.
There was absolutely no need for that — or at least no need on the basis that has been formally put forward by some historic accounts.
For successive decades, Celtic Football Club was run as no more than a private cash cow for the benefit of a handful of individuals and their families.
The fans, the ethos, the good deeds, charity and all that could all go raffle themselves except when it suited the largesse and the mood of those in charge and who were pocketing the money.
Since 2005 the Celtic Charity Foundation as it is now called — and which is a completely separate entity to Celtic Football Club has raised over £7m for various causes and is trying to expand its activities on a year on year basis.
That is a significant development and will hopefully grow ever more significant as more and more people buy into the concept and become involved.
During the clubs more successful period ever on the park, more kids in the Glasgow area were kitted out on a Saturday morning by Ipswich Football Club than by Celtic and Rangers put together.
As a result, Ipswich were able to attract a fairly significant number of Scots into their youth and eventually first team ranks — a side to charity and development that was totally lost or ignored by the Kelly’s Whites and so on.
There is no doubt that the current management could do and should do more about our founding ethos, and pay more recognition to our historic links with Ireland without the daft and unnecessary revisionism and censorship that exists in the most silly of areas.
However, the time when our ethos and heritage was most forgotten about and abandoned is not now in my opinion although more should be done to re-establish that ethos and heritage and place it in its rightful position and context.
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Jim, I appreciate your response and I understand many of your points.
However, I don’t think it detracts from my initial point about PL and the poorer aspects that he has presided over.
How many weans in the Glasgow area are kitted out by Celtic now?
Would any previous custodians have, without supporters knowledge, handed over their details to the police?
There are currently complaints being handled by the CT regarding stewarding in all 4 quadrants of Celtic Park. In my opinion this situation has arisen because of the employment of 3 ex police officers who are now in charge of ‘operations’. Would this have happened under previous leaders?
The current board have refused to pay their employees a Living Wage, would this have happened before?
Finally, I know for a fact that PL gave the instruction not to support, endorse and publicise the food drive initiative by the Green Brigade. He was the one who said that nothing should be put on Twitter or the official club website to highlight it. An initiative to feed the hungry of the Calton, where Celtic were founded, and he refused to support it.
Would this have happened before Jim?
Yogi or Sammi? loved both but never saw cut in shoot for goal, ball goes for throw-in (shie, shy or whatever you want to call it)
Sorry, never saw Sammi cut in
An Tearmann
Thank you bud. The oxyen, anti biotics and steroids are improving ma mammy’s pneumonia. Taking the birthday ghirl up to Gartnavel to visit her Great Grandma after school. :)
KevJungle
12:39 on 25 June, 2014
NatKnow
12:36 on 25 June, 2014
___________________
You believe what they say – good for you.
I stopped believing the minute that Martin O’Neill
walked out the door….
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Are you suggesting that Celtic are not pursuing standing areas at Celtic Park?
Parkheadcumsalford,
Following on the discussion from the last thread, have you any evidence of this ‘offer’? I hope it’s not based on info from a media outlet ( as we all know how reliable their information is
That was meant to be a smiley face at the end :)
Posted this last night but in the heat of a world cup biting debate it never got far.
I looked through for a response but couldn’t see one, my apologies if one was there
My question
House alarms, should I go monitored or not?
any knowledgeable people able to give any advice on this subject
HH
BMCUW
I did indicate it was very unusual. Mike Tyson is the only other high profile character I can think of. The fact that it is such a rare occurence is why I think a ban will be ineffectual.
JJ
What I don,t get is that the press are calling for a 2 year ban for what was a bite,hardly going to end a players career,when players who commit awful potentially career ending tackles get usually a three game ban,of course the english press have a agenda against the man who put them out of the world cup
NatKnow
12:58 on 25 June, 2014
Are you suggesting that Celtic are not pursuing standing areas at Celtic Park?
________________________________________________________________
No, I’m not but, how long have they been pursuing it?
How can they not just build it like they do in Germany?
darwins
This has nothing to do with the English press.
It’s about behaving as a human being.
No amount of whataboutery makes it in any way acceptable
All imo of course
HH
AndtyTime. Cheerio for now,
JJ
Andy !!
Suarez would get on a lot better if
he stopped listening to pitbull on his
i-pod and started listening to ole
Pharrell ‘Happy’ Williams. imho
Off oot zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
KevJungle
12:55 on 25 June, 2014
PeteTheBeat
12:51 on 25 June, 2014
I’m still amazed that he scored from the penalty.
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Yeah, he took it well, eh?
But, I’d rather he scored the pen at ibrokes.
What the hell do I know?
======================
Not a lot, ya rocket
His pen in that January dragged us back into the title race.
His missed pen you harp on about, lost that title.
He was the unexpected fulcrum of all our hopes that season.
He was also the man who led a hitherto underperforming squad back into contention. A leader, a player big enough to takre all the pressure and cover for others’ shocking ineptitude.
He didn’t deserve the ultimate disappointment, his legend was but Mcgregor’s fingertips from glory.
But it was about HIM, Samaras.
Where were the others when they were needed? Who missed the chances at Inverness/shipped the goals that gave the title to the Huns?
Why aren’t their names spat out in your ignorance?
Because great players step up to the challenges and run the risks, while bit-players fade intot he background and let them carry the can.
Selective condemnation, Kev?
JUNGLEJIM
Blinkin’ flip,I’d forgotten about Tyson!
IMO,a ban will be ineffectual inasmuch as it won’t have an effect on others. As others are unlikely.
But the guy clearly hasn’t learned. Three times now he’s been caught for that offence,show many times previously he got away with it I know not.
Plus various other indiscretions,of course.
He is a marvellous player,but….
He seems to think that the laws of the game don’t apply to him. Time he learned differently.
Jermaine Defoe bite v Suarez punishments
http://soccerisma.com/2013/04/suarez-bite-vs-defoe-bite-and-the-punishment/
SANDMAN
WOWEE.
Nailed,mate.
Which was worse, this tackle or Suarez bite?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_st29mlQwU
HT
“The current board have refused to pay their employees a Living Wage, would this have happened before?”
Aside from the fact that the Living Wage is a relatively new concept, you’d be horrified to know what Celtic were paying staff in the pre-Fergus era.
I’m talking late 80s, early 90s.
Most of them would have been better of mindin’ yer motor mister outside the ground, than working in it.
Shelbourne1916
spent my honeymoon there nearly 50 years ago.the horseshoe bar ddddoooooo.been back a few times since and going in 2016 for a wee celebration.will I get a room.
HT
all fair points well made.
The Stewarding and Police liaison is a very valid point and stems from the unfettered appointments you refer to in my opinion.
As for the GB foodbank drive …….. words fail me to be honest.
Actually, I might e-mail you about some of this later but for now I am heading out….. the day has been a very frustrating one so far.
Paul67 et al
I hope that this is the last time we see Suarez on a football pitch. Ever! He has already made a fortune from the biggest game in the world so he will not be leaving penniless. Goodbye and good riddance. Good luck with the anger management courses.
Marrakesh Express
12:29 on
25 June, 2014
Guys
Anyone recommend a good bar lunch in city centre about 3ish?
I’ve done a few so just looking for some new options.
HH
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The Blane Valley does a mean steak pie! Over the road in Bacchus is a bit more refined and Rab Ha’s is always good (and they have the West Brewery’s St Mungos on draft!)
Paul67
Agreed that Suarez needs treatment rather than punishment. He should however not be allowed anywhere near a compettivie football match until he has shown he has fully responded to that treatment.
The thing is I don’t think the laws of the game specifically mention biting….they do mention spitting, striking or aiming a strike at an opponent, kicking or aiming a kick at an opponent. I think it doesn’t mention biting specifically because it is such an unusal act of violence on a football field (more common in rugby I understand).
It is often the act of a petulent child in nursery….Suarez hasn’t grown up, still a spoilt petulant child.