Cameron urges Football Association to make an example out of Suárez

Prime Minister David Cameron has urged the Football Association (FA) to take a hard line on Luis Suárez following the charge of violent conduct for biting Branislav Ivanovic.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson told news sources: “As part of their consideration, I think it would be very understandable if they took into account the fact that high-profile players are often role models.”

Suárez was caught biting the Chelsea defender on television cameras during Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Anfield. The striker now faces retrospective action, as referee Kevin Friend did not see the incident.

In an official statement, the FA acknowledged that a mandatory three-match ban would be “clearly insufficient” given the severity of this case.

This isn’t the first time the Prime Minister has waded into an FA investigation although whether or not the FA plan to take the Prime Minister’s words into consideration remains to be seen.

Cameron last week condemned the football-related violence following Newcastle’s 3-0 defeat to Sunderland at St. James’ Park.

As for Luis Suárez, the Liverpool forward is no stranger to controversy, having previously faced a seven-match ban for biting Otman Bakkal, then of PSV Eindhoven, while playing for Ajax in 2010.

The act proved to be his last for Ajax in the wake of his £22.8 million move to Liverpool in January 2011. Bakkal, now of Dynamo Moscow, commented on the abnormality of his recent bite.

“It’s something you can never image happening on a pitch,” he told The Sun. “I think he wants to win so badly that he loses it sometimes, but afterwards he comes to his senses.”

“It was the end of him in Holland,” Bakkal added. “Now we just have to wait and see what the FA does – and then what his future will be in England.”

Liverpool FC have since fined their striker two weeks’ wages, amounting to £250,000, which he has asked to be donated to the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

They have, however, maintained that his future remains at Anfield. Liverpool’s Chief Executive, Ian Ayre, wrote on the club’s website: “We’ve spoken to him, and we’ll work with Luis.”

Keumars Afifi-Sabet