The latest situation for Luis Suarez shows that he has to have better awareness and control.
We all know Luis Suarez isn’t shy when it comes to controversy. Luckily there was no biting involved this time. However, El Pistolero is once again embroiled in a disciplinary issue. He received a red card in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal. In addition, the Uruguayan striker was handed a ban and will miss the final. A red card is one thing, but it doesn’t stop there. Suarez detested the card, and ridiculed the official who sent him off.
Barcelona appealed the ruling, but the appeal was rejected, and Suarez will serve a two-match ban including the final. Barcelona have enough star power to cope with his absence, but what’s more troubling is Suarez’s actions.
Since his bite of Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Suarez has been considerably well-behaved in Catalonia. Coupled with his brilliance on the pitch, many opinions of the Uruguayan have shifted in a positive nature over the past few years. However, acting out like this brings back bad memories of old with El Pistolero.
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Suarez’s past transgressions have created something of a tightrope for him to walk on as his career has progressed. Biting issues with Ajax and Liverpool as well as an accusation of racist comments toward Patrice Evra culminated in the Chiellini incident, and Suarez paid an enormous punishment with a four-match ban to start his Barcelona career.
Anything El Pistolero does is now scrutinized at a high level. Any intentional foul, any motion perceived as a kick-out or elbow sets social media alight with accusations and finger-pointing. All things considered, Suarez’s second yellow against Bilbao was relatively mundane, but the reaction is the problem this time, not the action itself.
No matter how much he disagrees with a call or ruling, he must remain professional. The microscope on him is already magnified because of his past, so drawing more attention can only result in more trouble.
Luis Suárez has been given a two-match ban. One for his sending off & the second for not going to the changing rooms after the red card.
— Andrew Gaffney (@GaffneyVLC) February 9, 2017
Next: Barcelona vs. Alaves in 2017 CDR Final
Suarez is one of the greatest talents in all of football, and perhaps the world’s best striker at the moment. While he is talented, he can’t get swallowed up in another issue. While this ban is nowhere near as severe (in terms of both his actions and the length) as others before, it’s imperative that Suarez continues with football and puts this behind him. Barcelona will survive, but he can’t miss more games for things like this.