Balls Galore: Italy beaten, Chiellini bitten

SOME footballers are simply so determined to win. They must prevail at all cost and leave no bodily appendage – theirs; unemployed; or that of others – untouched.

The game of football restricts the quest for control and possession of the round object – the ball that is in dispute; to the dextrous use of the feet, and clever nod of one’s head. Any other part of the anatomy – the hands for instance is considered a foul that will be punished with a free kick awarded against the offender.

The game’s administrators never thought anyone would test the anatomical limits not covered by the laws of the game that at least one of its more notorious proponents – Luis Suarez – has taken to the gnashing of teeth as the tool he would wield in plying his professional trade.

More precisely, he goes on the pitch thinking biting his opponent is one way to leave, or make a mark; literally on an opponent. Once is excusable, twice may be taken as still pardonable aberration; but three times?

Now, what’s with Luis Suarez’s toothy technique?

The Uruguayan first bit back in 2010.

He repeated the teeth tort three years later in 2013.

Now, here at Brasil 2014, on the biggest and most open public stage ever, he bared his fangs again!

Perhaps this was a carryover from some pre-pubescent nightmare he was subjected to; while on the dentist’s chair. (If I were CSI, I’d suggest digging into the root of this saga to its vary canal by with the search for some South American Nazi-era dentist!).

Back to the action on the pitch on Tuesday. It looked to be petering out to a draw – a result that would have left both Italy and Uruguay still with a chance of making progress, notwithstanding the computational goal-difference computation. Things were under control, even though Italy was reduced to 10-men after Marchisio was red-carded in the 59th minute. Italy have this deserved reputation for being able to hang on to the ball and not let the opponents a look in while keeping close possession. They hang back, hold off and when the opponent loses tack, strike like some slick snake to score a single goal and – proceed to sit back till whistle’s end.

So that looked to be the destiny of this crunch match when, with a little over 10 minutes left, came the BITE!

TV footage clearly showed Suarez lunging with his upper body towards defender Chiellini during a tussle for the ball, after which both player fell to the ground, both with a grimace of pain.

Chiellini pulled his shirt to expose his left shoulder, with what looked like the dental imprint of Count Dracula. Something oral must have taken place as Suarez himself looked equally in pain, both hands cupping his mouth, apparently to indicate that he had been elbowed.

Sensing trouble, Uruguayan forward Gaston Ramirez attempted to force Chiellini to cover up the `evidence’. In the event, referee Marco Rodriguez took no action, since he obviously did not see the incident.

That however, will not be enough to save Suarez though as the mood in this World Cup is one of justice.

With the deployment of goal line technology and invisible spray, goals deservedly scored were not denied the scoring team, and creative players could eke out the best from free kick penalties awarded with striking distance of goal.

The Italian manager Cesar Prandelli did not see the incident but certainly knew a dental offence was committed. “...but I did see the marks on Chiellini’s shoulder.”

While Suarez is an all to easy target to blame; really, the Italians only have themselves to blame for this humiliating first round exit. They only had to get a draw. Ill discipline that resulted in the sending off of their player early on left them one man short.

The world’s reaction?

Alan Shearer, the former England striker from the noughties had this to say: “Staggering. I could not believe it. The pictures ar pretty damning.....if found guilty, they should hammer him”

Steady on Shearer, maybe a bite for a bite would be more biblically tit-for-tat punishment?

Fellow former player Chris Waddle : “I’d make him wear a gumshield.”

Predictably, Uruguayan team manager Oscar Tabarez chose not to chastise his star player – beyond stating the painfully obvious; “...there’s a certain animosity towards him,” he answered when pressed by the media.

Down by the Mersey, the love-hate relationship the English contingent among Liverpool fans have with their most productive forward last season might well come to an end, sooner than later.