By Mike Prindiville
The Uruguayan had been enjoying another strong match – providing a succulent assist on Daniel Sturridge’s goal – before a 65th minute counter-attack resulted in what will surely be the main talking point of the next week.
Chelsea was possessing the ball in Liverpool’s defensive third when Suarez recovered possession and drove the ball 50 yards up the pitch. His pass to Steven Gerrard was recovered by Sturridge at the top of the box. Suarez then cut diagonally between John Obi Mikel and Ivanovic to receive Sturridge’s pass at the corner of the six yard box. The striker immediately dumped the ball back to Steven Gerrard, who’s cross was blocked out of bounds for a corner.
As Suarez laid the ball to Gerrard, the Uruguayan became entangled with Ivanovic. Suarez then grabbed the Serbian’s right arm and took a bite before the duo tumbled to the ground. Ivanovic immediately informed referee Kevin Friend, who gave Suarez a stern talking to but didn’t seem to notice the bite. No call was made and no cards were dealt. Assuming Friend missed it, the bite will be reviewable by the FA, who have the power to retroactively punish Suarez.
The FA’s refusal to bring down the retroactive hammer has been a talking point of late as the governing body refused to penalize Wigan’s Callum McManaman for his ‘horror tackle’ on Newcastle’s Massadio Haidara and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero for his stamp on Chelsea’s David Luiz.
Biting is not something new for Suarez after the former Ajax man was handed a seven-match ban for biting the collarbone of PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during a 0-0 draw in October 2010. That incident drew comparisons to boxer Mike Tyson’s bite on Evander Holyfield’s right ear in a 1997 bout and resulted in Suarez being known in Holland as the “Cannibal of Ajax.”
In true Suarez fashion, however, the incident left him unaffected and in the 97th minute the villain became the hero when he headed home Sturridge’s cross to earn Liverpool a 2-2 draw.
