Ferguson has no business suggesting Suarez should be axed

I'm not a big fan of Sir Alex Ferguson, being a Liverpool fan and all. However, like most Liverpool fans (if we can all be sincere with ourselves for once), I'm in awe of what the man has accomplished for the Red Devils.

That said, there's a good reason why many people (not just Liverpool fans) despise Ferguson. Over the years, he has used the feat of his accomplishments to influence the Premier League's decision on issues that are of the most benefit to him and his club.


There's nothing wrong with that, if those issues have a positive impact to your team's performance. For example, SAF will always complain about how many kicks Christiano Ronaldo (now with Real Madrid) was getting during a game, and worried that every time he took to the field, he may be injured. This had a positive effect on his team's match day performance because they got a lot of freekicks and penalty kicks (rightfully so, in most cases).


In the last few years, SAF has taken to extending those silent rights to influencing how other teams and players are viewed. Lately, he has shown great tendencies in blowing events out of proportion to the detriment of rival teams. This is very wrong and counterproductive for the league.

Yesterday's call for Liverpool the axe their star player for not shaking his Captain's hand, was a perfect example of Mr. Ferguson blowing things out of proportion. Yes, Suarez was wrong, and yes it put a damper on a very hyped up game. However, it did not have the potential to cause a 'riot' like Mr Ferguson suggested.


Interestingly, the KKK designed masks with the words 'Suarez is Innocent' sold by Manchester United Fanzine to taunt Liverpool fans, was just the right recipe for a riot. But of course the 'Royal' Sir Alex won't talk about that. 

During the 1994/95 season, Eric 'The King' Cantona, the French and Manchester United legend, was sent off against Richard Shaw for kicking the defender. On his way down the tunnel, Cantona attacked a Crystal Palace supporter (Matthew Simmons) with a two-legged kung fu kick, followed by a series of punches.

The Manchester United legend escaped a two week jail term for assault and was handed 120 hours of community service. He was fined 20,000 Pounds and suspended for 4 months by his darling club and Manager, Mr. Ferguson. That's a lot of punishment for attempting to inflect injury on someone. Luckily, the FA stepped in and doubled his suspension and added another 10,000 Pounds to his fine.


That didn't cause a riot.


My point is simple - If Eric Cantona could come back into the league the following year to captain Man United and win a double (League Title and FA Cup), then surely Luis Suarez can be allowed to get on with his football.

After all, he didn't attempt to kill anyone, it was only a hand shake. While Footy recognizes it was poor sportsmanship on his part and a black eye for the league (see Footy Bozz Feb 11 posting - Suarez was dead wrong), he still reserves the right to shake the hand of who he wants. It's not a crime.


Kudos to Liverpool Football Club and Manager for recognizing the severity of Suarez's 'insult' to the league for not shaking hands (after he had been told to do so by his Manager). They have quickly released a statement condemning his actions and also made him issue an apology just hours ago.


Does that work for you, Sir Alex?


By the way, you should also have a chat with your current French Captain, Patrice Evra about how to behave like an adult.

While his fellow countryman, Cantona did commit a serious offense, he carried himself with dignity throughout the rest of his career, to great benefit for his club.

Let's hope Evra can learn from that and stop celebrating and taunting opponents. It is as tactless and classless as Suarez's behavior.


No need to have two fools in the game.


Let's play!