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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Ritchie, are you an Absinth guzzling mad monk?
KevJungle
12:22 on 25 June, 2014
Yes , your opinion. I worked with him. He wasn’t a h**. PT supporter. An OK guy but was shafted by SFA and used to ‘soften’ issues re H**s which were constantly being put on UEFA’s table.
R.I.P. David Taylor.
Ar & HT,
Seats aren’t outlawed inside our stadia.
Antipodean/Gordie
You are using poetic license.
There is a station that is the full title of the programme.
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.
Paul, I have previously posted that I am extremely sceptical of players being carried away by uncontrollable emotionalism. As I have said before, rampant emotionalism never seems to hamper their ability to locate the nearest camera in the aftermath of scoring with even the most mediocre of tap ins.
As for Suarez, he was so emotionally overwrought that he had the presence of mind to immediately go to ground nursing a supposedly injured mouth.
On and off the field the game is rotten with varieties of cheating.
Ht – so no ” dead” leg of lamb then? :)
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
14:44 on
25 June, 2014
They were a bit unlucky at a set piece for Uruguay it came of Godins shoulder, they kept control of Suarez and Cavani, who took apart the english defence, i thought defensively they were sound
I agree thats part of the dark art knowing how to play the ref, they are expert at SFTB even at youth level
GM
True but it seems an excessive amount of time for something we were told would be a fairly straightforward process.
The club deserve credit for trying to push this through.
Igc
Is there a cracker Jack station?
Antipodean red- very often the time taken in lodging applications and them being granted is longer than the build period – Cfc seem to be comfortable that the alterations could have been carried out in the close season .
That is subject to all permissions being granted prior to that hh
HT,
It’ll be of no concern to me.
I prefer sitting on my FA. Or FE if you’re from around here :)
Igc, I’m kidding. I knows it. I’m just giving some other sausage a chance to answer. :)
SFTB
Agreed. I saw your post on that last night but didn’t get around to replying.
I think we could learn from them when it comes to exploiting weak refs in European games. Don’t think it’s cheating , fairly sure juve had done their homework on ref and exploited it at corners.
Johann,
Surely any SS couldn’t be done during this close season due to the Games being on!?
Ht I have been involved in projects where applications have taken 1/2 years to be granted with build out times of less than 6 months .
From what Davie l has posted the club have been looking at this for over two years if building warrants were submitted in 2012- working back from that it would require to have been briefed at least 6 months prior to lodging the applications.hh
Johann
I’ve been told to relax, put on SSN, read CQN, drink cider in large amounts and that I’ll be taken out for dinner later!!
I’m not sure how exactly but somehow, later on, I’ll pay for it :-)
igc,
That’ll Be Grange Hill, I think. Central Line, zone 4 or 5?
lionsroar
Didn’t realise it came off Godin’s shoulder, too busy watching what the Italy defenders were up to, to get caught out like that
Gm – I can only assume that club hoped all permissions would have been in place prior to games commencing and would have taken place during or as part of stadium prep works for games – normal working practice there for that type of alteration
HT,
I’ve found a better way to relax is to switch OFF ssn and logout cqn;)
Celtic were ready to go with the building of the standing areas but the approval they fully expected wasn’t forthcoming.
Until that is received it would be pointless to build it anyway as you will then have a reduced capacity at the stadium and I’m sure that would raise a few questions at the next AGM if people couldn’t get tickets for the Flag day, Champions league games or whatever.
That said the Health and Safety group putting obstacles in the way is hardly surprising as they have to fiond some way to justify their existence. Obviously we can’t go back to the days of fans literally cramming in/climbing over turnstiles but Germany have shown if done properly it is 100% safe! And safer than standing in seated areas.
HH
I had it in my head that redevelopment of CP was quite quick. It took 4 years though from demolition of the old stands to completing the new ones. I think it seems shorter because we were only at Hampden for 1 season.
So what are todays biting tips?
When it comes to penalty shoot-outs I always feel that the bigger the under dog the easier it is for them.
The Raith Rovers v Celtic match was probably one of the worst days of my life. I was only maybe 16 and I hadn’t seen us win a trophy in a long time. When it went to penalties I feared the worst. The first 5 is the best penalty takers and most confident of scoring. The next player to step up if not one of your best penalty takers is naturally the captain. I thought Paultook the role on well. My impression at the time was nobody else was desperate to take one. The team were afraid and it showed big time. Paul hit it very well. The keeper made a superb save. He did not miss.
We played at Easter Road in the next game on a Wednesday night. The Celtic end was not full. We had a double decker at Ibrox for the final. We had a half full mini bus for Easter Road. Me and my mate took a full size cardboard cut out of Paul McStay with us to support our boyhood hero. He never let us down and we didn’t want to let him down. If any player deserved not to be the one at fault against Raith Rovers it was Paul. That’s football though.
I never did find out where my mate got that Paul McStay cardboard cut out from! We left it at Easter Road. Not sure what Hibs have done with him. Probably in their trophy room!
LB
biting=betting. Bloody ipad.
Johann,
I’m forgetting that it’s a standing section that can convert back to seats when need be. Doh :)
borgo67
15:02 on
25 June, 2014
This might be to painful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9X_1FRe9F4
geordie munro
15:04 on 25 June, 2014
Yes I know where you’re coming from :-)
Weeminger
“I think it seems shorter because we were only at Hampden for 1 season.”
It felt sooooo much longer mate.;)
Magpie North …?
Geordie Munro
15:08 on
25 June, 2014
Johann,
I’m forgetting that it’s a standing section that can convert back to seats when need be. Doh :)
======
I forgot that too.
Get it built anyway Celtic!
HH
The online betting company 888 dot com are reviewing their decision to make Luis Suarez an ambassador last year.
I think they should either drop him or change name to ate ate ate.
Saurez will use this to work his ticket to Real Madrid or Barcelona, citing the English media have it in for him. Shame for Brendan Rodgers, who has taken plenty of bullets for the wee ratbag.
lionsroar67
Painful ? Only a little bit, not even close to how I feel when it happens to Celtic .
The proposal is to convert 3 sections to safe standing, 110, 112 and 111, the section which includes the Green Brigade.
Celtic’s plan if permission is granted is to convert one section at a time.
Italian bookies offering odds on the first biter.
Mascherano 3/1.
Efe 40/1.
HH!!
Kev Jungle
Ah am wit ye,pal.. There~
Sammi, let us doon.. Big, Big, Big, Big.. Time.. when he fluffed that ALL IMPORTANT.. Penalty..
That Miss Cost us.. Dearly!
n.. fur Missing that Important spot Kick..
Ah..
Never, Evah…n…Nevah WULL…
Forgie , the big Guy.
Yep.. that’s me ..all over..
Ah Nevah Forgie..
Och~ Ag know that Ah.. Should..
But, Ah Dinnae!
Sammi, good Riddance!
Kojo
Still,Laughin
Bada,
Yip.
The auld Tim at work said no-one will touch him now. I said aye right.
GM
Very funny!