Sports Updates

101 Fifa Worldcup Updates: Luis Suarez: What next for troubled Liverpool striker?

Uruguay's talisman has been removed from their World Cup reckoning for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini & Liverpool will be without arguably the Premier League's finest player until November.<br /><br />The shockwaves will have been felt from the Maracana in Rio, to Melwood back in Liverpool, as Luis Suarez received a four-month ban from all football-related activity & was suspended for Uruguay's next nine matches.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr90iOGgbs-DPhZDZuJgdvohDi1OwEKhDAtDJztHAs_y5C1Xq3ycL16Sj4VMq04d3VJ_20r6XOt2EyVMRsb3ggoeAVGiTyHCJrfiLNFE1K3GApaZxwRYld4tShZ-QyHC-ZABJGx_cxtyA/s1600/_75855081_suarez.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr90iOGgbs-DPhZDZuJgdvohDi1OwEKhDAtDJztHAs_y5C1Xq3ycL16Sj4VMq04d3VJ_20r6XOt2EyVMRsb3ggoeAVGiTyHCJrfiLNFE1K3GApaZxwRYld4tShZ-QyHC-ZABJGx_cxtyA/s1600/_75855081_suarez.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />This punishment outstrips the eight-game suspension given to Italy's Mauro Tassotti for breaking Luis Enrique's nose with an elbow against Germany in the 1994 finals.<br /><br />Fifa needed to act swiftly & decisively & has completed so on an unprecedented scale at a World Cup.<br /><br />This World Cup here in Brazil has been a celebration of glorious attacking footy & open games across this large, football-mad country.<br /><br />It is bites & out for the 27-year-old, who is a world-class player but a character out of control. It is clear that when club & country draw the line it is only a matter of time before Suarez steps over it.<br /><br />Suarez entered in to the spirit with a magnificent performance & goals in Uruguay's decisive win against England - only to leave the party in disgrace for his assault on Chiellini.<br /><br />In taking Suarez out of the World Cup, Fifa has wiped away the largest stain on events here in Brazil. Uruguay - in a state of lockdown & denial that did them a disservice - are instantly in reduced circumstances ahead of their meeting with Colombia at the Maracana on Saturday.<br /><br />They marvelled at the skills of Suarez against England & with Liverpool in the Premier League last season, but they could not escape a stiff sanction for his latest outrage.<br /><br />For all their complaints of an anti-Suarez agenda driven by the British media - keep in mind, this is the Footy Writers' Association footy player of the year - the Uruguayans' only complaint ought to be directed at the man who has effectively become a pariah at this World Cup.<br />
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The fact it was completed in front<br /><br />a worldwide audience & was headline news in the United States, as well as on every sports & news programme in Brazil, only emphasises the damage they has completed to his, Uruguay's & the game's reputation.<br /><br />Owner John W Henry & manager Brendan Rodgers will have reacted with despair to Suarez's bite, & to the level of punishment inflicted on him & them.<br /><br />Liverpool will understandably feel aggrieved, not because of the support they gave Suarez after a similar assault on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic at Anfield in April last year, but also because this did not happen on their watch.<br /><br />On a regular basis & patience they put in with Suarez last season, when they tried to make use of the Ivanovic bite as a lever to get out of Anfield, has been squandered in yet another moment of insanity.

101 Fifa Worldcup Updates: Luis Suarez: What next for troubled Liverpool striker?

Uruguay's talisman has been removed from their World Cup reckoning for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini & Liverpool will be with...

101 Sports: Debut World Cup campaigns

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But after coming on to score and hit the post in the 2-1 defeat to Romania in the next game, the 18-year-old Liverpool striker was not to be denied his beginning place.<br />
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<br /><br />Michael Owen started England's opening game of the 1998 World Cup on the bench as manager Glenn Hoddle opted for a front of Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer against Tunisia.<br /><br />Owen's fantastic solo strike against Argentina, after he won the penalty for England's first objective of the game, ensured that when England departed on penalties he was immediately linked with big-money moves to Juventus and Actual Madrid.</div>

101 Sports: Debut World Cup campaigns

But after coming on to score and hit the post in the 2-1 defeat to Romania in the next game, the 18-year-old Liverpool striker was not to b...

101 Sports: Fifa World Cup Updates

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Employers across the United Kingdom will expect a few bleary eyes over the next few weeks as World Cup fans substitute sleep for soccer.<br />
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<br />Productivity won't be hampered much by England's late kick-off against Spain because it takes place on Saturday (23:00 BST). But, despite the prospect of a long Sunday lie-in, plenty of claim they still won't be staying awake until the early hours to cheer on Roy Hodgson's boys.<br /><br />So BBC Radio five live have kicked off this query on Your Call - 'Will you be staying up for England?'</div>

101 Sports: Fifa World Cup Updates

Employers across the United Kingdom will expect a few bleary eyes over the next few weeks as World Cup fans substitute sleep for soccer. ...

101 Sports: Fifa World Cup Updates

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"I think the message sent by the demonstrations in Brazil has been sent and the protests left a legacy of political awareness to Brazilians," said the ex-Barcelona striker.<br />
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<br /><br />Former Brazil striker Romario, who has been a powerful opponent of the way the World Cup has been organised, spoke to BBC Brasil about the protests:<br /><br />"We can support our national team but also to show our grievances. But right now it is time to enjoy the party."</div>

101 Sports: Fifa World Cup Updates

"I think the message sent by the demonstrations in Brazil has been sent and the protests left a legacy of political awareness to Brazi...