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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HT,
First bit is true likesy.
Funny enough…..another very famous incident happened 17 years ago this very weekend.
hi Ghuys
ifCeltic do get a standing section it will push up the official capacity of the stadium.
But will it be enough to overtake the ground in front of us now?
HH
Phil
Suarez will be banned for a year, reduced to 3 games on appeal.
Well, that’s usually how it works.
Suarez v the world.
Suarez done what most footballers do these days. They do what it takes to win. He will get some sort of fine and ban. Won’t be much to him though.
FIFA/UEFA have let cheats away with things in the past. Hand ball with Henry to deny Ireland. Hand ball with Suarez against Ghana no action.
Bilic behaviour to deny a final appearance to the Frenchman. Cheating. Rivaldo going down holding his face when he was skelped with the ball on the shins by a Turk? The list goes on.
Is this much different? Not really? Big teams and players will get away with it.
It’s sad but that’s the way the game is. If it affects the sponsors then so be it. Rijkaard should have been banned for life for spitting on Voller not once but twice in 1990. He didn’t.
It’s sad that this has affected the world cup as it was a great touranement.
LB
If Ah wur King…
Suarez, is an Animal..
Yes, He is~
So..
Suarez, Should be ..
Hit wi a Big…Punishment..
The Guillotine, Beckons.. but.. Ah wid Settle fur a .SINE DIE..Sentence… instead.
Yep.. Sure, he Deserves it.
Because of whit he did… he should Be made an Example..in order, tae Stamp oot this kinda Doonright Hooliganism..
Which ..It Damn well Is.
Kojo.
Still,Laughin’
A safety certificate for this attraction
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-27994637
A problem with safe standing at a football ground ? bewildering
Yesterday’s referee has a nickname “the little vampire”.
Seriously you could not make that up.
Hamiltontim
Celtic seem to have been trying to convert the Green Brigade for quite some time.
celtic mac
There has been some dialogue behind the scenes between Celtic and the GB, some of it relating to safe standing.
Let’s hope permission is granted soon and the GB are back in place as soon as possible.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
14:47 on
25 June, 2014
Ritchie, are you an Absinth guzzling mad monk?
————————————————–
So? (with inflection)
Sitting is unhealthy.
The buzz phrase is that ‘sitting is the new smoking’, and it seems that’s not just hyperbole.
http://www.juststand.org/tabid/597/language/en-US/default.aspx
For that reason alone standing areas should be encouraged.
Livibhoy,
Suarez was indeed punished for the handball v Ghana.
Maybe not as harsh as some would like but he was treated like anyone else woulda been.
Hamiltontim
It would be fantastic if all three of 110, 111, and 112 were to become safe standing areas, better still if the club and the Green Brigade were to agree to well agree really.
Question.
Why did Anywan..
Wanta STAND .. whilst watchin a Game of Fibba’???
In Ma opinion..
Standin’ , whilst Watchin..well.. Any kinda entertainment.
Is.. Well..
Nuts?
Sure it is .. Whacko!
Kojo
Still,Laughin’.
Good afternoon all
HT, wish yer beautiful daughter a big hoopy birthday from mrsweefra and me. :-))
DD, same goes to yer wee granddaughter. Aren’t granddaughters just wonderful. I hope yer wee mammy is making good progress. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Kojo
did it ever occur to you that your opinion is not shared by everyone?
Go to an away match and the vast majority stand for the duration.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
13:51 on 25 June, 2014
Cheers mate
I’ve been getting conflicting reports on what to install – I’ll just need to get some companies out to see what’s on offer
***Today’s winner is livornobhoy***
Give that kid a coconut
Igc
Damn I thought it was Nellie the Elephant and Castle…
The orange order officially register with the electoral commission their support for a No vote in the upcoming referendum. Instead of Better Together their slogan is British Together.
Surely this is the game changer Alex Salmond has been praying for ?
WWW
Haha Mr Divers’ secret is safe with me.
I went to school with his nephew.
Traditionalist
Sure, Ma Opinion is Not Shared by Many..
So?
Pal.. Ah kin only gie ye .. Ma Opinion..oan Here…
An..
Ah still Say..
Fur Anybuddy tae wanta Stand.. when they Could sit.. In order tae watcha Fitba’ game.
Is …
WHACKO
Ur you..well… Whacko?
The only reason that Folk Staun, at Ither Fitba’ Gruns ,whilst watchin a Fiba Match.
is
well
Because
There Isnae Any Seating, available!
Kojo
Still,Laughin
The only reason that Folk Staun, at Ither Fitba’ Gruns ,whilst watchin a Fiba Match.
is
well
Because
There Isnae Any Seating, available!
===============
Eh…everywhere we go in the SPFL has seating so clearly you haven’t been to a game for a long time.
Weefra
Thanks bud. Great Grandma was happy to see her birthday ghirl today and is improving every day thanks. :))
Traditionalist
Wait a Cotton Pickin . Minute.. Kid
Ye jis newly done tole me..
That..
“Go tae an Away Match.. n.. the VAST MAJORITY.. STAUN.. fur the Duration.”
Noo, Ye tell me..
“Everywhere ye go.. in the SPFL.. HAS SEATING..”
Doh!
Ye canny keep choppin n Changin.. yer Facts..
Fur..
Ah believe whitever ye Write..
But..
Like Ah said..
Make up ye mind ,Kid..
Ah hiv Made up Mine..
An..
Ah wullnae Change it.. at the drap of a Participle..like you Dae!
Ah Still Say..
“Anywan , who will Staun.. When they could Sit ..
Ur .. well..
Nuts!
Hiv ye no any chairs in yer Hoose?
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Kojo
Maybe you are hard of understanding – YES there is seating. But many fans at away matches – STAND anyway.
In your own time ya balloon.
Blantyre Kev.
You have mail.
Traditionalist
Pal…Ah wiz eggin ye oan..
n
Sure ,Enuff..
Ye showed everybuddy that Ye ur wan o they
“Name Callers”
That ye hear Aboot..
N..
Sure enuff..
You ur wanna of they thingmies..
A.. Nasty…”Name Caller”
N..
Ur Therefore ye ur no Fit fur a Dacent Guy, such as Kojo.
Tae Hiv a Converstation wi.
Ah don’t Cotton tae “Name Callers.”
Diz Anybuddy?
Ah widnae think so..
So ye musn’t be a Very Popular Guy.. aroon the Campfire..in the Campsies…
Ah wid aver..
Kojo
Still,Laughin
MON” there’s only 1 ugly Italian footballer i know,Gattuso….”
Brilliant
Brilliant from Martin O’Neill there. Said the only ugly Italian he knows is gattuso.
There’s MON on ITV4 just said the only ugly Italian he ever knew was Gatusso. Go on Martin.
Kojo
at least you’ve caught up. Next time I’m in Airdrie, I mean Las Vegas, maybe I’ll see you round a campfire and we’ll see if you are as forthcoming with your bile as you are on here.
Love MON just said he only knows one ugly Italian and that’s Gatusso. Hahaha
Classic!
HH
/Bishop B
lionroars
“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”
Sorry, I had to go out.
Yes, there was an element of luck about the ball coming off Godin’s back. The point I was making was that 2 out of the 3 Italian defenders did not make a jump for the ball because they were grappling tight with their man. Their luck was not to concede two penalties by their actions. There was precious little aerial challenge from the Italians to try to meet the ball first. On the whole, I think it is far too risky an approach to take to the dark arts. At the WC and CL there is a ref in the penalty box and one behind the goal- why neither saw these offences at the Celtic- Juve game or the Italy-Uruguay game beggars belief.
borgo
“fairly sure juve had done their homework on ref and exploited it at corners.”
I am not sure it was research. Juve have used other more reliable methods to influence refs. Research and 2nd guessing how the main ref and the “behind the goals” refs would respond, is leaving too much to chance for them.
BB / LB, the huns urnay gonnay like that. They’re still convinced the horrible Italian ratbag is coming back to them…………………..along with every other ex player from the past 15 or so years.
They’ll be revolting on hunmedia:-)
Put me down as a sitter too. Why stand when perfectly good seats are available?
At the last concert I attended, I got very good seats near the front and what happened? the buggers in front of me all stood, so I had to stand or I wouldn’t have been able to see anything. Madness!
A standing section at the football is fine for those who want it. You just won’t get me in there.
ACGR- no mate haven’t got round to destroying Carnoustie yet :)
Syd
Suggs ain’t all that to look at these days anyway. ;)