By Mark Baber
July 14 – FIFA have confirmed that Luis Suárez cannot participate in an unveiling event at Barcelona as, “he cannot be in a football-related event irrespective of venue.” Meanwhile Adidas, his main sponsor, look likely to stick with the player.
Barcelona star signings, such as those of Neymar, David Villa and Cesc Fabregas have been public events in front of thousands of fans, but FIFA’s head of media, Delia Fischer, has confirmed: “The ban relates to all football-related activity. He cannot be in a football-related public event irrespective of the venue. He cannot even be involved in a football-related charity event.”
Suárez has had an appeal against a four-month ban, nine-match international suspension and £66,000 fine rejected by FIFA’s appeals committee, but may take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) where it is even possible he could even get a lifting of the suspension in advance of the matter being decided.
It appears Barcelona are supportive of the player’s attempts to have his ban reduced, despite the biting of Giorgio Chiellini being the third such attack by the player. Those close to Suárez appear to take a similar line with his solicitor, Alejandro Balbi, claiming FIFA’s punishment was “blatantly draconian, totalitarian and fascist.”
Balbi told Spanish radio station Cope: “The right of a footballer to work is being violated, and football should be worried about that. The nine [international] games may seem excessive, but the fact that he can’t watch a game of football, or train or carry out his job, we are talking about unpleasant things.”
Meanwhile, Adidas boss Herbert Hainer told the SID sports news agency on Sunday that “We will continue to work with Luis Suárez.” The German sportswear manufacturer will however “talk with him and his management about what we expect of him on and off the pitch.”
With Suárez clearly being one of the best strikers in the world, if not the best, Adidas and Barcelona clearly believe he can be tamed and make a positive contribution to their brand, or at least their bottom line.
The position of these two companies stands in stark contrast to 888poker who quickly announced that “888poker signed Luis Suarez following a fantastic season for which his achievements were widely recognized. Regrettably, following his actions during Uruguay’s World Cup match against Italy on Tuesday, 888poker has decided to terminate its relationship with Luis Suarez with immediate effect.”
Whether “standing by” the player by attempting to excuse his conduct and ameliorate the consequences or acting to make him realise his behaviour is unacceptable is the best course of action for football generally and the player in particular, remains to be seen.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734805269labto1734805269ofdlr1734805269owedi1734805269sni@r1734805269ebab.1734805269kram1734805269