Why leaving Luis Suarez off the Ballon d'Or shortlist was the right decision
It's a complete sham. A farce. A disgrace.
How dare FIFA pass judgement on a player when the organization itself is rife with corruption and viewed largely as the bane of the footballing world?
That's the resounding sentiment in light of Monday's revelation that Barcelona striker Luis Suarez is not among the 23 finalists for this year's coveted Ballon d'Or award.
(Courtesy: FIFA)
All of the familiar faces are there. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi headline the names. With 2014 being a World Cup year, the tournament results were guaranteed to play a massive role in the composition of the list - just ask Fabio Cannavaro what one great month can do for you. Hence the six German stars named above.
But Eden Hazard? Thibaut Courtois? Paul Pogba? Football's governing body proves inept yet again. Take a step back, everyone.
You will find no sympathy here for FIFA - or its top officials - who continue to do their utmost to make a mockery of the sport. Corruption and scandal has plagued the organization for some time now, with many pointing to the hypocritical nature of the decision to omit Suarez from contention for the sport's top individual honor. Those people aren't wrong. Far from it.
But that's not the point. Instead, the point is being muddled.
Suarez was a class above the rest last season with Liverpool. Of that there is no doubt. His rate of 0.94 goals per 90 minutes was second in the Premier League (among players who made at least 20 appearances) behind only Sergio Aguero. With 31 total tallies on the campaign, Suarez led the league - and finished ten goals ahead of his nearest rival, despite missing 5 matches. His 12 assists were good enough for second in England. He masked the club's defensive frailties all on his own. Just look at their struggles this season. With Suarez gone, the Reds are a lackluster attacking unit. It's not a coincidence.
You get the point. He was great.
And then he went and bit another human being during a football match. If it sounds overly simplistic, that's because it is. And yet, the vile nature of that action is being overlooked, shunned aside as a minor incident that just sort of happened.
"Unless he goes and murders someone, you have to judge him on what he does as a footballer," wrote Eurosport's Paul Parker on Tuesday.
Was Suarez not playing football when he sunk his teeth into the shoulder of Giorgio Chiellini?
Well, would you look at that.
You can be upset about some of the players on the aforementioned list. There are some egregious omissions that should raise an eyebrow or two. Luis Suarez, who missed a quarter of the calendar year that is being taken into consideration for the award, is not one of them.
For attacking fellow players with your teeth, you get ridicule, some jokes made at your expense, and ultimately a lengthy ban. You don't get consideration for football's most prestigious individual award.
Suarez deserves a place on the list? That would be the farce.