<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-107354" title="luis-suarez" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/luis-suarez4.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="401" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/17053353/luis-suarez4.jpg 580w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/17053353/luis-suarez4-150x103.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/17053353/luis-suarez4-300x207.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px"></figure>
Over the past two years, we’ve written more words about Luis Suárez than we ever imagined possible.
From suspensions to transfer rumors to key goals at the most opportune time, we thought we had seen it all and there was nothing left that could surprise us.
So you’ll understand our shock while watching Uruguay’s game on Monday when Suárez and Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini clashed in front of the Italian goal with just a few minutes left in the game. Suddenly, Suárez was on the ground holding his mouth, while Chiellini was chasing the ref, pulling at his shirt collar to <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/06/24/photo-reveals-luis-suarez-bite-marks-on-italy-defender-giorgio-chiellini-photo/">show something on his shoulder</a>, and we were left in disbelief.
Did Suárez really do what we think he just did? Did Suárez really just <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/06/24/new-camera-angle-shows-luis-suarez-biting-giorgio-chiellini-in-more-detail-gif/">bite Chiellini</a> during a win-or-go-home World Cup game?
On Thursday, FIFA came down on Suárez, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/06/26/fifa-bans-luis-suarez-for-9-matches-and-4-months/">banning him for four months</a> from all soccer activities. Not only is he out of any remaining World Cup games for Uruguay (and nine international matches all together), the ban extends to Liverpool, meaning Suárez will miss nine Premier League games (including ones against Manchester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur) and the first three UEFA Champions League games.
“Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field,” said Claudio Sulser, the chair of FIFA’s disciplinary committee. “The committee took into account all the factors of the case and the degree of Mr. Suárez’s guilt in accordance with the relevant provisions of the code. The decision comes into force as soon it is communicated.”
Unbelievable.
We spent the past Premier League season coming to terms with Suárez and his role with Liverpool. As he rang up goal after goal – a league-leading 31 in 33 games on the season – we talked ourselves into the possibility that Suárez had finally changed. After returning from his suspension he was on his best behavior for the most part, helping Liverpool challenge for the league title and cutting down on the diving and whining.
But during the season’s final games as Liverpool’s title hopes faded away, you could see the frustration creeping back into Suárez’ game, as the angst over non-calls and the falling down every time he was touched, made a return appearance to his game. It was somewhat understandable but, in hindsight, it was also a sign that the on-field demons were slowly creeping back into Suárez’ game.
In the days leading up to the start of the World Cup, Suárez was profiled by Grant Wahl in Sports Illustrated. Early in the article, Suárez is quoted as saying that “I want to change the bad boy image that has stuck for a bit because I don’t think I am at all how I have been portrayed. I would like that to change because it’s awful to hear and read what is said of you.”
We want to believe that Suárez was sincere in his desire to change his image, but if that is the case how do you explain what happened during the Italy game? Maybe the answer lies in a comment from Liverpool owner John Henry in that same Sports Illustrated article.
“He is a good person 99 percent of the time, and 1 percent of the time his desire to win overcomes everything else,” Henry said. “So he had moments where he made very high-profile mistakes. But those mistakes were always in the heat of competition. [They have] caused him problems, but [they’re] also a reason he is one of the best players we’ve ever seen.”
There is no doubt that Suárez is currently one of the game’s best goal scorers, but how much longer can Liverpool put up with him? They did everything they could this past season to support him and, while it was enough to get him through the season, it wasn’t enough to make a permanent change. How can they trust that the “1 percent” won’t come out at the most inopportune time?
Suárez hasn’t been helped by the fact that the Uruguayan Football Association is blaming everyone but Suárez for the incident, claiming everything from Photoshopped images to a conspiracy by a cabal of English, Italian and Brazilian media.
“We don’t have any doubts that this has happened because it’s Suárez involved and secondly because Italy have been eliminated,” association member Alejandro Balbi said. “There’s a lot of pressure from England and Italy. We’re convinced that it was an absolutely casual play, because if Chiellini can show a scratch on one shoulder, Suárez can show a bruised and an almost closed eye.”
Everyone else’s fault but Suárez, of course.
Liverpool officials also have to factor in that they are shouldering a large part of the punishment handed out to Suárez, even though they played no role in the latest incident. Suárez was <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/06/20/barcelona-want-to-sign-uruguay-and-liverpool-striker-luis-suarez-says-report/">going to be a transfer target</a> this summer, with the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/06/07/real-madrid-will-have-to-pay-more-than-gareth-bale-transfer-fee-to-sign-luis-suarez/">annual move to Spain already hitting the media</a>; could this be the tipping point where the club decides that Suárez is no longer worth the trouble?
For now, team officials are being quiet, only saying in a statement that “Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment.”
While it is probably a prudent course of action, that statement doesn’t necessarily scream out “we stand behind our player.”
Suárez has an uncanny ability to surprise us when he is on the pitch.
We just wish those surprises were limited to his goal scoring, rather than everything else.

Luis Suarez’s Desire to Win At Any Cost Evokes His On-The-Pitch Demons

Luis Suarez's Desire to Win At Any Cost Evokes His On-The-Pitch Demons - World Soccer Talk

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-103237" title="AO Cleveland" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20140607_CMS_103197_AO-Cleveland-600x600_09135761.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=600" alt="" width="600" height="600" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/AO-Cleveland-600x600.jpg 600w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/AO-Cleveland-150x150.jpg 150w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/AO-Cleveland-300x300.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2014/06/AO-Cleveland.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure>
The American Outlaws are a group of dedicated supporters of the U.S. Men’s National Team. The group’s mission is to “unite and strengthen” a group of fans who are described as “loud, passionate, organized and dedicated.”
The organization was established in 2007 in Nebraska to bring fans together to watch matches and travel to games. They adopted the name American Outlaws because they saw themselves as outliers in a sports landscape in America that focused more on American football, baseball and other sports.
Since then, the American Outlaws organization has grown to include 135 chapters across the country.
Chris Morris is president of the Cleveland chapter and he was gracious enough to sit down for a virtual Q&amp;A about the chapter and the prospects of the U.S. team this summer at the World Cup in Brazil.
Question: How did the Cleveland chapter come about? 
Chris: The Cleveland chapter was formed in 2010 by RJ Pooch, in the run up to the World Cup in South Africa. We currently boast more than 240 paid members. We have been meeting for every USMNT match at Merry Arts Pub and Grille in Lakewood, Ohio, since 2013. I have to give a shout out to John Granzier, the bar owner, for being gracious enough to welcome us in when we needed a new place to host our watch parties. He and his staff have proved to be invaluable in creating the right atmosphere and stable relationship needed to grow our chapter and support of U.S. Soccer in the Cleveland area.
Question: What activities do you have planned for the World Cup?
Chris: We have teamed up with America SCORES Cleveland in an effort to raise money for their organization. They will be on hand during the USA v Ghana game hosting a 50/50 drawing, with half the proceeds going directly to SCORES Cleveland. We also have plans to give away some swag, as well as at least one other 50/50 draw during the Group Stage matches. America SCORES Cleveland was founded in the spring of 2004 with programming for 120 students in four inner-city west side elementary schools. Today, America SCORES serves more than 500 students, ages 8-15, in nine K-8 Cleveland metropolitan schools across the city and through summer collaborations and a newly-launched high school alumni program. To learn more, visit their website.
Question: What is the atmosphere like when the group gets together for a match?
Chris: The atmosphere is jovial, raucous, and noisy. There is singing and chanting, and although we have the volume cranked up for the commentary, we seldom are quiet enough to hear it. Oftentimes, it feels much like you’re in the stadium, part of the crowd, cheering on the Yanks.
When you watch a match with so many like-minded individuals, knowing that there are people in more than 100 different bars across the country watching and cheering just like we do, you genuinely feel like part of something much bigger than a local group of people with one common interest. You feel united, all part of the American Outlaws Family.
Question: What is the soccer fan scene like in Cleveland? Is there a large fan base and/or other support clubs that you know of?
Chris: Diverse. I’ve met so many people through American Outlaws who support so many different club teams. It underlines soccer’s global appeal and makes watching soccer in Cleveland fun and exciting. Merry Arts also hosts the Cleveland Gunners on all Arsenal match days, and will put on Columbus Crew matches. There is a Chelsea supporters group, they meet in Strongsville at Mulligan’s, and the Cleveland Spurs group meets at the Old Angle in Ohio City.
Question: “In Jurgen We Trust!” Yes or No?
Chris: Personally, yes. I feel Klinsmann has brought fresh ideas to U.S. Soccer and has been given the freedom to implement a program that has the potential to revolutionize the U.S. Soccer talent pool. The fact that (U.S. Soccer Federation President) Sunil Gulati appointed Klinsmann as technical director shows a level of ambition we’ve not seen before. The federation now has an approach that says, “We want to be a dominant soccer nation.”
Question: The U.S. team will miss Landon Donovan in Brazil. True or False? 
Chris: It’s hard to separate head from heart on the case for Landon Donovan. The qualifying campaign showed a team able to win, and win convincingly, without Landon Donovan. The question remains, can they win against tougher opposition? I think having Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey fit alleviates some of the sting of missing Landon Donovan and the presence he can have on big games.
Question: Who will be the key player (or players) for the U.S. in the World Cup?
Chris: Jozy Altidore. He showed off his work rate last Sunday against Turkey. If he can replicate that over three matches, no doubt he’ll score some goals. A motivated Altidore can cause serious trouble for any defense. A note on our fullbacks, too. Neither fullback positions have been nailed down with any certainty. There have been glimpses of the really good and the really bad. Makes you feel a little uneasy about the defense with it so unsettled less than two weeks until the World Cup.
Question: How will the U.S. do in group play; can they advance?
Chris: If they can get solid defensive performances, along with an offensive line spearheaded by Bradley, Dempsey and Altidore, then I think we can advance. A win against Ghana is crucial, and something I think we are capable of. We have some history against Portugal, but it won’t be an easy task. Germany is the biggest question mark given their overall quality. The USMNT can advance. I think a win over Ghana puts a lot of nerves to bed (and vanquishes the ghosts of World Cup pasts); we’ve had some success against Portugal and Germany. Though the road may seem weary, I think the USMNT will advance to the knockout round.
Question: Who is going to lift the World Cup trophy on July 13?
Chris: Between Germany, Spain, and Brazil, I think Germany lift the World Cup in Rio on July 13.
In the days leading up to the World Cup, though, I think what if … what if we make a run, a bit of luck on our side, how great it would be to see the USMNT … well, I’m not gonna say it!
Thanks Chris, great work!
To learn about the American Outlaws Cleveland chapter, follow them on Twitter, <a href="https://twitter.com/AOCleveland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@AOCleveland</a>, or on Facebook.
To learn more about the American Outlaws at the national level, or to join a chapter, visit their website at <a href="http://www.theamericanoutlaws.com/">www.theamericanoutlaws.com</a>.
(Photo courtesy of American Outlaws Cleveland chapter.)

Interview With Chris Morris, President of The American Outlaws Cleveland Chapter

Interview With Chris Morris, President of The American Outlaws Cleveland Chapter - World Soccer Talk

The #1 Source for Soccer TV Schedules, Streaming Links, Cord Cutting Reviews, Soccer News and Interviews With Broadcasters.

latest articles by

News

Luis Suarez’s Desire to Win At Any Cost Evokes His On-The-Pitch Demons

News

Interview With Chris Morris, President of The American Outlaws Cleveland Chapter