Suarez's tough childhood to blame: sports psychologist

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Suarez's tough childhood to blame: sports psychologist

Uruguay's volatile star Luis Suarez's propensity for biting opponents stems from his under-privileged childhood, a leading sports psychologist told the BBC.

The 27-year-old Liverpool striker -- who has been banned for lengthy periods for two previous biting incidents -- is alleged to have bitten Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in their World Cup Group D game on Tuesday.

Governing body FIFA are investigating the incident and if found guilty of biting he could face a ban of up to 24 matches.

"The formative years of people's development do contribute to their personality. If you look at his history, Suarez had a fairly hard upbringing (he was one of seven children born into poverty), which would have been fighting for survival - he was streetwise," Dr Tom Fawcett from Salford University told the BBC on Wednesday.

Fawcett claimed that nobody should be surprised at the incident which has yet to be proven and which was not seen by Mexican referee Marco Rodriguez. TV images showed Suarez bending his head down onto Chiellini's shoulder and then immediately afterwards sitting on the ground fiddling with his teeth.

"If it's happened before, it'll happen again," Fawcett said. "Despite all the help, he's going to do it again."

Fawcett said that Suarez required more help than just spending some time undergoing therapy with people such as him as the problem was so deeply etched in his psyche.

"I would suggest he is hard-wired in this way," said Fawcett.

"It's not something that's going to come out of his character with a few sessions with a psychologist.

"Despite working with Liverpool in fairly impressive rehab, he's relapsed and he's open to that."

Fawcett didn't offer up much hope that this problem would be resolved any time soon.

"It's in the man. I would think that in five years' time, if there was a certain nerve hit or chord rung with Suarez in a different situation, he would react in the same way."

Suarez, who had shown his better side when he scored twice in the 2-1 win over England last week just a month after undergoing knee surgery, had shrugged off the incident when he spoke to Uruguayan TV after the game.

"These are just things that happen out on the pitch," the striker told Channel 10. "It was just the two of us inside the area and he bumped into me with his shoulder, and that's how my eye (it showed swelling under the right one) got like this as well."

Fawcett added that Suarez's temperament could not cope with high octane encounters where there was a lot at stake.

"He's a talented footballer but very vulnerable in intense situations, and Italy versus Uruguay was always going to be hot-tempered," said Fawcett.

The Uruguayan Football Association has until 2000 GMT on Wednesday to respond to the bite allegations.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-26

[bangkapi]

Ban the cannibal for life.

[RickBradford]

This is psychobabble nonsense -- thousands of great players past and present have come up from tough childhoods, yet never resorted to biting people who got in their way.

For example, Garrincha was not only born poor, but with several birth defects; his spine was deformed, his right leg bent outwards and his left leg was six centimeters shorter and curved inwards. He overcame those defects to become a spectacular footballer.

He never bit anybody, and won two World Cups with Brazil into the bargain.

Suarez is vile for his own personal reasons -- trying to excuse it on the grounds of his poor background is an insult to others born into poverty.

[Buckeye21]

Tough childhood? That's his excuse for continually biting people?

[khaowong1]

Psychobabble bullshit...

[socksy01]

Is this guy actually a qualified shrink? What a load of crap.

[Albertosez]

The Dr is probably correct IMO........but it doesn't make it any more acceptable. Nipping, spitting, eye poking, balls squeezing ( I could go on ) - have all played a part in the game at some stage or other and some are more dangerous and despicable than others. The fact of the issue here is that he is " multiple repeat offender " and must be dealt with accordingly, plus a an extra heap that comes with being high profile. Yes - he should be hammered even harder because of his high profile.....all young footballers look up to the stars of the game. He has earn't an awful lot of money from the game because of his high profile and so, when he steps out of line to this extent, he should pay the price for it too. If it was some unknown who had bitten a player for the 1st time, then maybe a 1 x match suspension and a fine would be ok. However, IMO he should be banned from playing any further part in this World cup and should also be banned for at least 15 games of the next domestic season.

On top of that, he should be made to have all his front teeth taken out and play with a gum shield - to send a clear message to him and all other footballers !

[jayjayjayjay]

Ban the cannibal for life.

Take his teeth out! A gummy would be less offensive & less painful.. 555 55555

[IsaacHunt]

He's a good lad & does a lot for charity.

A couple of months on the naughty step for Uruguay will suffice here I think ,it's not like he threatened another players career or anything.

[RickBradford]

He's a good lad & does a lot for charity.

A couple of months on the naughty step for Uruguay will suffice here I think ,it's not like he threatened another players career or anything.

This 'good lad' is a violent psychopath who needs to be very sternly taught stuff he really should have learnt at the age of 3 -- that biting other people is a thoroughly disgusting act for which there is no excuse.

The instantly outraged and revolted reaction of his numerous victims shows how sickening it must feel to have someone bite into you.

His charity exploits are irrelevant.

[IsaacHunt]

He's a good lad & does a lot for charity.

A couple of months on the naughty step for Uruguay will suffice here I think ,it's not like he threatened another players career or anything.

This 'good lad' is a violent psychopath who needs to be very sternly taught stuff he really should have learnt at the age of 3 -- that biting other people is a thoroughly disgusting act for which there is no excuse.

The instantly outraged and revolted reaction of his numerous victims shows how sickening it must feel to have someone bite into you.

His charity exploits are irrelevant.

Lol just hang the bastard then .

[boomerangutang]

I had a g.f. in California who was half Inuit and half Latina. if one of her babies (from her prev. b.f.) bit her, she would bite back, hard, and make 'em cry. Weird. Never bit me though.