There's a book written for teething toddlers called "Teeth Are Not For Biting." Someone should give a copy to Luis Suarez.
Giorgio Chiellini became the third victim of Suarez's Jaws-like propensity to bite chunks out of his opponents' flesh during a feisty contest to decide who would join Costa Rica in the round of 16. Uruguay prevailed 1-0 over an Italy side reduced to ten men following a wreckless, studs-up tackle from Claudio Marchisio on the hour mark. But while Diego Godin scored the all-important goal to send the South Americans through, it's Suarez who once again claims the headlines.
In the dying minutes of the game, as Chiellini and Suarez came together in the Italian penalty box, the Liverpool man sunk his teeth into the Italian centre half. Both men fell to the floor; one holding his shoulder, the other his mouth. The referee did nothing.
Television replays clearly back Chiellini's claim that Suarez bit him. With reports indicating that FIFA has begun an investigation into the incident, the Uruguayan has surely played his last game of this World Cup.
This isn't the first time he's left his teeth marks on an opponent. Towards the end of the 2012-13 EPL season Suarez took a chunk out of Branislav Ivanovic's arm during a match against Chelsea at Anfield. Prior to that, whilst at Ajax, he munched on Otman Bakkal of PSV Eindhoven during an Eredivisie game in 2010. Suarez has apparently received anger management treatment whilst at Liverpool in a bid to curb his temper. Note to Brendan: It isnt working.
Luis Suarez's latest on-field antics have given rise to a wealth of online memes (Photo: @EurosportCom_EN | Twitter)
Is there currently a more controversial player in world football than Suarez? Remember this is the man who, four years ago in South Africa, deliberatly hand-balled a goal-bound header from Ghana in the last minutes of their quarter final clash, before wildly celebrating when the ensuing penalty was missed. This, too, is the man banned for eight Premier League matches in 2011-12 following his on-pitch racial abuse of Patrice Evra.
Suarez was clearly dejected following the final whistle in Natal. As his teammates celebrated, he slumped to the floor, fully aware of his actions and their likely consequences. Perhaps the only people really happy tonight are Liverpool fans who, despite the less-than-subtle advances of Real Madrid, must surely be wondering whether anyone else would really want a problem like Luis.
