Luis Suarez biting was wrong, but not a moral crisis

Luis Suarez biting Branislav Ivanovic was wrong and bordering on criminal (try biting someone in a bar and see what happens) and much of the outrage is justified. However, it is not the end of the world.

It was impossible for the referee to see, and I am more annoyed that he was able to score in the 96^th minute than some temporary damage to the arm of Ivanovic, a player who seems tough enough mentally to get on with it.

Ivanovic’s wound will heal, but the draw could cost us Champions League football, and I know which one I care about more.

I dislike Suarez intensely, but on the outrage scale this was only a 7 out of 10. It was something in the heat of the moment without provocation, and the same as throwing a punch in the game.

I am not defending Suarez, just pointing out that in today’s sanitised game this seems like a hangable offence. However, it was not so long ago that pinching, nipping and other devious tactics were commonplace treachery that are now viewed with nostalgia.

He is a brat and his talent will undoubtedly save him from more than a slap on the wrist at Anfield.

I think he should be banned for around seven games, or whatever the standard is for excessive violent conduct, and we should move on.

It is worth remembering that 7 games is the same ban he got when he did it while playing for Ajax.

Some will say that as a footballer in the public eye he should conduct himself better. However, Suarez ceased to be a role model the moment he handled the ball in the World Cup against Ghana, and he has done little to change things since.

I miss the days when footballers did stupid stuff and we moved on. Obviously, for serious offences such as the racism accusation, a stand must be taken, but here you just have a moment of petulant madness for a player often described as having the “madness gene”.

He knows he is wrong, he will take his punishment, and hopefully we can move on. The game would lose a lot more of we refused to move on from the incident, to the bigger and more important issues at hand.