Will Luis Suarez ever learn from his mistakes…
SEE ALSO: The 50 best players at the 2014 World Cup.
Luis Suarez was at it again on Tuesday, appearing to bite opposing defender Giorgio Chiellini during Uruguay’s 1-0 World Cup victory over Italy.
The incident was the third time the Liverpool striker has been accused of biting an opposition player during his career, and his actions are likely to bring about a lengthy ban.
But is he the most controversial player to have ever played in the English Premier League? Here’s a look at the top five candidates:
5) Paulo Di Canio
Be it as a player, or a manager, it’s hard to keep the Italian quiet. In 1998, he received an eleven match ban for pushing a referee, while in his time with Lazio he received negative publicity for his alleged fascist salute, as well as his relationship with the club ‘ultras’.
He lasted just 13 games as manager of Sunderland last year, although he did manage a memorable win over local-rivals Newcastle United.
4) Roy Keane
He may be a Manchester United legend, but the Irish hard-man was never particularly gifted when it came to steering clear of controversy.
He was sent home in disgrace by international manager Mick McCarthy shortly before the 2002 World Cup, while his fierce rivalry with Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira became a phenomenon.
In his autobiography, he admitted that he intended to hurt Manchester City player Alf-Inge Haland with a bad tackle, earning him a five match ban and a £150,000 fine on top of his original suspension.
3) Mario Balotelli
With the potential to be one of the most gifted striker’s of his generation, the 23-year-old should be looking forward to a long and illustrious career.
But, as he so rightly pointed out after scoring for City in the Manchester derby in 2011 (pictured), he’s always making headlines. With 79 yellow cards and seven reds in his career already, he earned his manager Roberto Mancini’s words: “I told him, if you played with me 10 years ago I would give you every day maybe one punch in your head.”
“There are different ways to help a guy like Mario. I don’t speak with him every day, otherwise I would need a psychologist, but I speak with him because I don’t want him to lose his quality.
“If Mario is not one of the best players in the world it will be his fault, because he has everything. Mario can be one of the top players in Europe. I don’t want him to lose his talent.”
2) Joey Barton
Make of him what you will, but another man constantly attracting headlines for the wrong reasons is Joey Barton.
His career and life have been marked by numerous controversial incidents and disciplinary problems. He has been convicted twice on charges of violence.
In 2008, having already served time in prison, he was given a four month suspended sentence after admitting to assaulting former teammate Ousmane Dabo during a training ground dispute the previous year.
Barton has been charged with violent conduct three times by the FA: for the assault on Dabo, for punching Morten Gamst Pedersen in the stomach and for attacking three players on the final day of the 2011–12 season.
1) Luis Suarez
Love him or hate him, Suarez is both a brilliant footballer and a wannabe pantomime villain.
Accused of biting opposition players on three separate occasions, in addition to the ban he received over the Patrice Evra racism saga, the 27-year-old continues to turn football fans against him.
Surely, he can’t continue to claim he is being victimised by the media now – everybody makes mistakes – but some people never learn.
