Former Reds stars Dean Saunders and Ian Callaghan are expecting harsh sanctions for the Uruguay striker but expect the Reds to support him after his World Cup biting incident
EXCLUSIVE
By Russell Stoddart
Former Liverpool players Dean Saunders and Ian Callaghan have condemned Luis Suarez following accusations he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini but remain convinced that the Anfield club will support their star striker.
Controversy struck during the second half of Tuesday’s World Cup Group D decider, as Suarez appeared to bite Chiellini as both players jostled for possession of the ball shortly before Uruguay’s winning goal.
Suarez is now facing disciplinary action from Fifa and Saunders is adamant that the PFA Player of the Year should not escape a ban for his actions.
He told Goal: “Suarez should be banned for what he did. You simply can’t do that and expect to get away with it.
“I feel for Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers in particular who stood by him after he was given a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
“The club was under a lot of pressure to sell him but they gave him another chance and he rewarded them with some brilliant performances last season.
“I don’t know if the football authorities will want to make an example of him after this latest incident and extend any ban to cover all forms of football. I hope that is not the case because Liverpool don’t deserve that.”
Record appearance holder for Liverpool, Callaghan, meanwhile, is also hoping that Suarez’s actions will not affect the Reds, where a ban extending to the Premier League could potentially see him miss a large chunk of the 2014-15 campaign, if not more.
“It doesn’t look good for Suarez and I fear the worst for him,” Callaghan told Goal.
“He is a phenomenal player but there is clearly something in his make-up that makes him do stupid things.
“I played professional football for 20 years and never saw a player bite another, but he’s done it three times now, I don’t understand it.
“I’m not sure of the rules but any ban should be for his country first and last. It should not impact on Liverpool who got him to behave impeccably when he returned from his ban last season.
“He scooped all the player of the year awards and although he won it because of his goals, part of the reason was that he had seemed to sort his head out.
“I’m sure everyone at Liverpool will stand by him because of what he has achieved for the club but no one at Liverpool will condone behaviour like this. It is unforgivable even if you are a player out of this world.”