It's time the Suarez boo-boys moved on

Expert Opinion

08Aug

It’s time the Suárez boo-boys moved on

by Mike Calvin

He’s not the messiah, or a martyr. He’s been a naughty boy. But it is time to move on. Accept Luis Suárez, warts and all, or accept that football is doomed to implode in tribal disarray. He deserves to fulfil himself at Liverpool, without the accompaniment of ritual abuse.

The signing of a new long-term contract with Liverpool yesterday was a huge statement of personal intent and a coup for the new manager, Brendan Rodgers. Juventus, a club of genuine stature, offered the prospect of a fresh start, away from the bitterness and recrimination.

Fears that Suárez would conclude he had no future at Liverpool, or in the English game as a whole, were widespread. His aggressive self-justification and antagonistic conduct on the pitch testifies to a certain immaturity. Rodgers set the correct tone by advising him to draw a line under his feud with Patrice Evra. Crafting conspiracy theories to support contentions of innocence is ultimately self-defeating.

Suárez is a world-class player, popular in the Anfield dressing room and capable of generating sufficient respect to captain both club and country. Yet he and the majority of Liverpool fans who retain faith in his character and will celebrate his demonstration of loyalty to the cause cannot escape the reality of the situation.

The booing to which the Uruguayan was subjected during the Olympics was a taste of things to come. It’s horrible and deeply depressing, but it is the modern way. Lynch mobs don’t follow logic. His persecutors will come up with slogans and borrowed soundbites without putting the debate about racism and football into its proper perspective. They’ll simply boo Suárez because he is there and because of what he has come to represent. There’s an assumption of guilt which they suppose gives them a licence to insult and intimidate. He is who they want him to be.

Relations between Liverpool and Manchester United, never pleasant, have been poisoned for a generation. It’s time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. More bile will choke everyone involved. Suárez will remain a polarising figure, but I respect him for not taking the easy option of walking away. He deserves to be judged fairly, and consistently.

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Pault

I bet those who Boo Suarez are the racist themelves. You wouldn’t boo someone if you’re educated. That shows what kind of people they’re.Lastly Suarez isn’t racist as Both FA and Evra said on the statement. The booing just shows how world class he is- also shows the hatred.
Satien_t

He’s a brave kid. At his age, he will walk into any workplace as an intern. Guilty or not, how one so young is subjected to such judgemental situation I can never know. Worse, genuine racist incidents smear our world every minute, but we choose the easy option of demonizing a young man who may simply have let slip bad words at the heat of the moment on a soccer pitch.
Naveenkd23

Many football players have dealt with this situation all their careers; Sol Campbell, JT and Ashley Cole are a few notable mentions. All of them were strong enough to ignore all the abuse and win major titles & become legends at their clubs. If Suarez is mentally strong, he too should be able to make it.
ISTANBULWIN

I have an answer.
every time they boo him, reds fans should sing his little song only change the lyrics to BOO BOO BOO DE DE DE BOO BOO BOO “YOUR ALL SCARED OF LUIS SUAREZ “
Ekeng Etim

Suarez is a strong man and boo by those glorified illiterates makes him stronger. If these elements should boo another country’s anthem, that really show the level of illiteracy and primitivity which was nerve expected of a place like England. A very big shame indeed.
David

damn right pault, he wouldnt be worth booing if he wasnt a class above the majority of footballers in the prem. they just want to mess with him cos hes immature
AndyJ

The whole Suarez affair was a mess from the start and the booing isn’t helping the ‘Kick it Out’ cause. Though I do note that the Kick it Out folk don’t seem to be saying anything about it. Perhaps they aren’t as free of bigotry as they make out. I don’t know. But from what I’ve seen of Suarez to accuse him of racism was, and is, ludicrous. The booing is almost certainly due to some kind of tribal jealousy.

Best thing to do: let’s all draw a line under it.
http://www.facebook.com/paulwmcmullan Paul Mcmullan

when i played football things were said both ways, and it was about unsettling the other player. but what was said on the pitch stayed on the pitch there was no crying to the ref, you also delt with it on the pitch, and when you came off at the end shake the opponents hand and say better luck next time. too many wimps in the game now.
Prh1961

I think the racism issue is just one of the reasons. Diving is the major thing for me. I know the latin countries see it as part of the game, but we ain’t latin, and it is just plain cheating. He isn’t the only one but he has also got the face only a mother could love and people just can’t take to him. Add to that his piss poor conversion rate. If that ain’t enough for you to dislike him then a sainthood is yours for the taking my friend

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