David Cameron, Luis Suarez And Why Politics And Sport Shouldn't Mix

Now not for one minute do I condone the actions of Luis Suarez. I have resolutely defended him in the past but with the second bite of his professional career he deserved to be heavily reprimanded. David Cameron, however, has no say on the disciplinary actions taken by the FA, but felt that "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". What first comes to mind for mine is that the Football Association have enough people employed (and paid well) to comment on all on-field disciplinary issues. These men are also entrusted into handing down an appropriate sanction for isolated issues and, for years, have not needed input by the PM. So why now did Cameron feel the need to comment, and then, engage in further dialogue? No other player applying their trade in the Premier League would have received the same public scrutiny that Suarez was subjected to. He is the Number One villain everywhere in England (aside from the Red half of Merseyside), and Cameron's actions only added fuel to the fire burning at the Uruguayan's feet. Suarez received a ten-match ban for the bite. The sanction was handed down by the FA on the 24th of April and, having entered the Premier League in 2011 with an outstanding ban from the Eredivisie for biting, the severity of the penalty is hard to criticise. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers commented in the fallout to the ban and suggested that the disciplinary panel had been influenced by the public comments about the incident. Rodgers said:

"Everyone has their opinion - which is normal. People will be emotional in their statements - former players of the club and ex-players of other clubs having their opinions - the Prime Minister even chipped in, which is a different matter altogether."

The words of David Cameron in the days leading up to the announcement of Suarez's penalty left Rodgers with no option but to mention them whilst responding to the ban. He had just lost his best player for the rest of the season and was frustrated. Not so much frustrated by the length of the ban itself, Rodgers was annoyed that so much of the deliberation was heard publicly. "It is the first time I have ever heard of an independent inquiry being dictated to by so many people", Rodgers said. During this saga, Cameron added that "If you are asking me as a dad, as a human being, do I think we should have tough penalties when football players behave like this? Yes, I think we should". He showed again his inability to walk away from a microphone and attempts to humanise himself only grew to the debate of the incident. Suarez was undoubtedly in the wrong, but the publicity behind this incident was generated by David Cameron and his comments giving the English populous another insight into the dumbing down of our politics. Why do issues relating to sport get tabled in Parliament anyway? I'm just one of countless of football fans in this country who would prefer to hear the words of men paid to operate in the game rather than those overseeing our foreign affairs. Politics mixed with sport is messy ... it's as simple as that. Sport is idolised in the United Kingdom for its ability to both entertain and act as a form of escapism. Football, especially, is unique in how so much passion and argument is derived. Fans of any sport are aware of the political underbelly that resides in their midst and have acknowledged its role in delivering a marvelous spectacle. But did politics play their role in the length of Suarez's ban? The 10-match suspension shocked Suarez and Rodgers. "When the only two incidents similar were both back in 2006, and one received no ban (whilst continuing to be selected by the FA into the English national squad) while the other received a 5-match ban, we ask ourselves why was Luis handed a much heavier penalty", Rodgers said. His swipe at the Football Association was a further sign to his frustration over how the incident was handled. Essentially, if you look at this as an isolated incident for Suarez then the punishment didn't fit the crime. No similar incident in seven years and the penalty had doubled?! The FA took into account the history of Luis Suarez and the words of David Cameron when deciding upon this ban. This shouldn't happen. This incident reinvigorated the argument of why politics and sport shouldn't mix. Hell, it gave me the opportunity to put my own spin on it! But I ask myself whether David Cameron will speak so candidly next time he is posed with a similar question? We'll just have to wait and see but it will know doubt depend on the player and what stature he holds in the football community. Suarez was wrong and theres no manner of words I can write that will exonerate him. However, if incidents like Suarez's continue to be dealt with so publicly then football as a game risks losing its integrity. David Cameron knew full well that his comments would reverberate around the world and he would be scrutinised. Football fans didn't need the PM to tell them what to think ... they were just surprised that he did.