By DAN KARELL
On Sunday, Liverpool forward Luis Suarez was able to celebrate his game-tying goal in the 96th minute, helping his side tie Chelsea 2-2 at Anfield. On Monday, the club brought him back down to earth.
The Merseyside club fined Suarez an undisclosed amount for his bizarre actions during the second half, where he decided to bite the right arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic after losing possession in the box. The referee and his assistants missed the scene, allowing the Uruguayan forward to stay on the field.
Suarez was busy in Sunday’s draw, picking up an assist, a yellow card for a deliberate handball within the eighteen, and scoring the late goal. On Sunday evening, the 27-year-old tweeted that he had apologized to the club and Ivanovic for his actions, and asked to donate his fine to the families of the Hillsborough tragedy.
Along with fining Suarez, Liverpool made it clear the club does not intend to sell Suarez despite his latest transgression.
While the club took pre-emptive measures with the fine, it is expected that the FA will decide on a suspension and possible extra fine as well for Suarez, likely forcing him out of Liverpool’s final four matches of the season. Suarez won’t face any legal ramifications for his bite after Ivanovic declined to press charges when questioned by police.
Here are some more stories to get your Monday going:
BOATENG SUBJECT TO RACIST ABUSE AT JUVENTUS
It took several teammates, and reportedly, the PA announcer to help calm the tensions between some Juventus fans and AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng before the start of Sunday’s match.
According to reports from Turin, the Ghanaian star was subject to racist abuse from a number of fans in the team’s hardcore section behind the goal while the player was warming up for the match. Fans also targeted Boateng’s teammate Mario Balotelli, holding up posters with caricatures of the Milan forward.
Juventus could be facing a fine from the Italian FA or be forced to play future matches behind closed doors. The Italian club have already been fined on three occasions for racist chanting this season. Boateng drew praise from around the globe for his actions last January, when he walked out of a friendly match against Pro Patria after suffering racist abuse from a set of fans.
BLATTER COULD STAY ON AS FIFA PRESIDENT
FIFA President Sepp Blatter dropped major hints last week during the 2013 CONCACAF congress in Panama City, Panama that he could contest the next election in 2015.
Blatter previously made it clear that his 2011 election would be his last, seemingly paving the way for either Michel Platini of UEFA or another region’s head to take over at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland. However, during the CONCACAF congress, Blatter stated that if his reforms take more time than originally thought, he will make sure he can see them through.
“We are not over with our reform because we have a first part, we have all the dangers that are in football like match-fixing and so on but we also have to have a look at the political organization of FIFA,” Blatter told Reuters. “It will take more time, because it (means) going in depth, and then I will not just leave the boat by saying ‘good bye’.
“Some day we have to go home but I will not abandon this boat.”
The 77-year-old Blatter has been in charge of FIFA since 1998, and has been re-elected three times, in 2002, 2007, and 2011.
QUICK KICKS
Central Coast Mariners of the A-League have won the Grand Final, defeating the Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 for their first ever league title. (REPORT)
Celtic have clinched the Scottish Premier League title with a 4-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. (REPORT)
Greek side AEK Athens have been relegated from the nation’s first division after being hit with a points deduction due to pitch invasions by the club’s supporters. (REPORT)
Harry Redknapp admits that his one big regret since taking over Queens Park Rangers is not doing more to complete the signing of Peter Odemwingie. (REPORT)
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What do you make of these reports? Do you see Suarez playing for Liverpool again? What kind of punishment should Juventus receive for their racist abuse? Do you see Blatter running for office in the next FIFA elections?
Share your thoughts below.