Suarez slapped with fine but Reds won't sack him
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, April 23, 2013
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A video footage shows Luis Suarez biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during their game on Sunday. |
Liverpool has fined Uruguay striker Luis Suarez an undisclosed amount for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during their game on Sunday but will not sack him, the Premier League club said yesterday.
Suarez, the league's top scorer with 23 goals after scoring the equalizer in Sunday's 2-2 draw, is expected to get a lengthy ban from the Football Association but Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said the club would stand by him.
"I think the most important thing is that we acted swiftly yesterday," Ayre said. "Luis issued his apology and then we spoke with him last night and then again this morning. We've taken action to fine Luis for his actions."
Ayre did not specify the size of the fine but Suarez asked for the money to be donated to the Hillsborough Family Support Group - an organization set up after the 1989 stadium disaster that left 96 Liverpool fans dead.
Ayre said manager Brendan Rodgers would work with the player to help improve his discipline.
"He's a very popular player with his teammates. He signed a new four-year contract last summer and we'd all love to see him here throughout that contract. He's a fantastic player, top scorer and everything we'd want in a striker so there's no change there."
Meanwhile, Ivanovic has told police he does not wish to make a complaint. Suarez called him up after the match and apologized.
"For my unacceptable behaviour yesterday the club has fined me today," Suarez tweeted. "I have asked the club to donate the money to the Hillsborough Family Support Group for the inconvenience I have created to the Liverpool fans and to Ivanovic."
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said the union would offer anger management counselling to deal with his temper.
"There is no doubting his football ability, that's why it is so disappointing and embarrassing when he lets himself down," Taylor said. "We have trained counsellors in this field and we will be offering their services to Liverpool and the player to try to improve matters."
Consequences
Liverpool legend John Barnes said the Reds must resist calls to sell Suarez. "He has to suffer the consequences of his actions, that's all he has to do," Barnes said.
"I've heard talk about him not playing for Liverpool again, which I think is ridiculous. I've heard talk about him bringing the good name of Liverpool down, which is also ridiculous - he's brought his own good name down.
"If you're saying because of what he's done he should never play for Liverpool again, who should he play for? Whoever signs him, it's going to reflect badly that they sign a player who Liverpool deem from a moral perspective not good enough. So Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona... they can sign him? But we can't have him? If you're questioning his moral character, what you're actually saying is that if he can't play for Liverpool he can't play for anyone, which is ridiculous."
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