SUAREZ MESSED UP- BUT THIS MORAL OUTRAGE IS GETTING TEDIOUS

by Joey Davies
@theonejoeyd

Luis Suarez knew it. Brendan Rodgers knew it. Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre postponed a flight to Australia to deal with it. The Uruguayan maestro had made a serious heat of the moment gaffe.

His nibble on Branislav Ivanovic, unseen by referee Kevin Friend during the Reds' pulsating clash at Anfield against Chelsea on Sunday, has been punished by the FA with a 10-game suspension, which as I write this has yet to be appealed. Suarez pleaded guilty to the charge of violent conduct, but opposed a ban in excess of the standard three games.

Now, Suarez does have a seven game ban for a bite during his stint in the Eredivisie at Ajax, and the Patrice Evra saga on his record, but racist abuse and violent conduct are two completely different kettles of fish and what the FA have demonstrated beyond belief is that racist abuse is not as serious as a gnaw on the arm. Try asking a black footballer what they'd rather be subjected to if they were forced to make an on-the-spot choice.

Of course, Suarez received eight games for the remarks made in his confrontation with Evra, while John Terry was given four for his comment at Anton Ferdinand. Let's not even take into account the 'build a bonfire' song about the Ferdinands that was boomed out by sections of England's traveIling support at San Marino last month that the FA bizarrely seems to be denying actually happened. It's the inconsistency and the reasoning behind their decisions that puzzle me into confusion. Indeed, when Wayne Rooney was slapped down with a three game ban for yes, violent conduct against Montenegro in the final Euro 2012 qualifier, they desperately attempted every single form of defence ever witnessed by any country's football association including a letter from Miodrag Dzudovic, the victim of Rooney's kick. How can they appeal that, yet slap down 10 games on Luis Suarez?

What is quite clear from observing him in interviews and the friendship he has struck with many of his team-mates is that Suarez is not the devil incarnate. He is here with his young family and is adapting to a new way of life, still learning the language. This is not defending either the comments at Evra or the bite at Ivanovic, but he clearly has a short fuse and instead of castigating one of the league's most gifted footballers, why can't the PFA provide him with the emotional support and assistance in trying to cure the problem? Liverpool have already assigned club psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters with the task of trying to calm him down. Too often it's easy to ignore and sneer at those who have issues to overcome when a bit of warmth and assistance can be the most fruitful cure.

There is an infectious disease sweeping the country not just in sport but in all walks of life- the rapid speed it takes for people to scream outrage and jump on a moral high horse. For me, what Suarez did on Sunday while unpleasant, was nowhere near the worst behaviour I've seen on a football pitch. Roy Keane on Alf-Inge Haaland in 2001, Callum McManaman on Massadio Haidara this season and going back to 1982 Harald Schumacher on Patrick Battiston, there's three I can recollect immediately. Breaking a fellow professional's leg and in some cases ending their career is not as severe an offence as a bite that left no lasting damage, by the looks of things.

Also, the identity of some of those individuals sticking the boot in brought to me a great sense of amusement and disbelief. Graeme Souness was apoplectic in the Sky Sports studio after the match and laid into the Uruguayan. He was at it again before the Borussia Dortmund-Real Madrid semi final when the ban was discussed in the studio, saying 'he had never seen anything like it on a football pitch.' Chortle! The same Graeme Souness who stamped on an opponent's nether regions when at Rangers and produced some of the most cynical, sordid challenges seen on a football field. The same former Liverpool manager who sold his story to the Sun newspaper, still passionately reviled in Merseyside, on April 15 of all days. Stop throwing those stones in your glass mansion Graeme.

And then we have the Prime Minister, David Cameron, who said the FA should take into account that 'high-profile players should be role models.' What, like expense-fiddling MPs? The same PM who appears to have vetoed Tanni Grey Thompson's Sport England position due to her vocal criticism of his austerity measures? Focus on your own problems, Dave.

Roy Keane, by all accounts, has not commented on the situation but I don't see his current employers ITV or any of the national tabloids bringing up the fact he deliberately set out to hurt someone, as his confession in his autobiography confirms. Is Suarez really more abhorrent and intolerable than that?

Luis Suarez has his baggage, and his behaviour on Sunday let his club and his manager down. But seriously, let's stop with the lynch mob mentality, and instead allow qualified people to aid him with his problems. If the Premier League wants to continue to keep pace with the ever-impressive Bundesliga and the already established La Liga, it cannot afford to lose its prized talents. 

I only hope Suarez sorts his personal issues out, the FA weed out the hypocrisy and inconsistency over its disciplinary process, and the general baying mob of outrage wind their own necks in. However, my observation is that only the former is a realistic proposition.

THE RUGBY TORCH IS ALMOST LIT

by Joey Davies
@theonejoeyd

Rugby, and I include both codes in that, has always been thought of as a sport for English speaking countries with the exception of France. It was formed in Britain and played in its former colonies- Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and South Africa, as well as the states that make up the United Kingdom.

However, the sport itself is going through some sort of an expansion. Argentina has always embraced the union code since British immigrants first played it there, but recently its national side, also known as Los Pumas, have improved their results and standing immensely, with victories over the likes of England, Scotland and France, not to mention a third place showing at the 2007 World Cup. Plus in the league format, Super League and Australia's NRL have never had such sizeable television audiences and even France is warming to the Catalans Dragons at last.

But there is an exciting prospect coming over the horizon for rugby fans that will diversify the game even more. Back in 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), voted two new sports to be introduced to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. One was golf.

The other? Rugby sevens, a version of union that differentiates enormously from the traditional 15 vs 15. The minutes of each half? Quite aptly, seven! The pitch size remains the same as it would be for a full union game. This favours slick passing, possession and exciting attacks. But what the inclusion of rugby sevens does for the sport as a whole is open it up to a whole new audience worldwide. While there are many regions around the globe with no interest in rugby, the opportunity to compete for their country and claim a prestigious Olympic medal could change all of that in one swoop.

By including rugby sevens in the Olympics, it could create a boom for the traditional form of the sport and those countries who use the Games to develop its rugby infrastructure may end up profiting from the experience and the education it will provide the young players. The rules provide an excellent method of developing a player's game- agility, passing and handling before making the step up to the more physically demanding 15 vs 15 format. It's a bit like youth football where it is mandatory to play five-a-side till a certain age, and then seven-a-side after that.

Of course, the sevens form of rugby has its own important competitions. The IRB World Series is held over a season beginning in autumn, through New Year into the spring and beyond. Nine countries, mostly the traditional rugby heartlands, host a tournament each over two days, with the final point totals dependent on the finishing position in the table. Whichever nation has the most points at the end of the ninth two-day competition is the World Series champion. New Zealand has been the dominant force, having triumphed in 10 of the 13 editions since its inauguration in 1999.

It's not just those nine hosts who compete though. A few interesting additions are present that are not even thought about when it comes to 15-a-side rugby union- the likes of Spain, Portugal, Uruguay and even the United States, where the use of an egg-shaped ball inclines solely toward the gridiron fields. With the confirmation of sevens in Rio de Janeiro, expect the sport's participation to increase, especially with the dream of Olympic gold something to aspire for. Indeed the host nation Brazil will be entering a team at the Games. With a population of over 190 million, there will be plenty of natives chomping at the bit I would imagine. It might create a rugby boom in the country if the team produces an impressive performance.

The other major cornerstone of the rugby sevens calendar is, or was, the World Cup held every four years. This is also a two-day contest, however it consists of a pool stage and then a last 16, quarter-finals and so on. Unlike the league format of the World Series, New Zealand have not been able to dictate the knock-out format. But the 2013 tournament in Russia, held this June, will be the final instalment with the Olympic competition effectively replacing it in three years' time.

But it should be an enthralling conversion (pun intended) when rugby sevens hits Rio. It could open avenues to brand new destinations in the governing bodies' attempts to expand the sport, it can provide an excellent learning curve for those who want to improve their overall rugby union skills, and most importantly of all it will allow youngsters' childhood dreams to become reality.

I for one am fascinated by its Olympic incorporation, and I look forward to seeing it in action.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND- A STORY OF TRUE LOVE

by Joey Davies
@theonejoeyd

The celebrations at the final whistle created images. A visual narration of a tale greater than any scribe or essay-writer could ever contemplate.

Jurgen Klopp's emotional dash on to the field at full time brought back memories of Jose Mourinho's own pitch invasion at the Nou Camp when he took his Inter side into the Champions' League final.

And his Borussia Dortmund players' desperation to climb the fence to embrace their die-hard supporters in the yellow wall of the Sudtribune epitomised the adoration they possess for one another- indeed the club's motto is Echte Liebe, meaning 'true love'. It is a bond unrivalled by many clubs, including those who have witnessed wealthy tycoons and oil magnates step in and create a managerial revolving door while spending extortionate amounts of money not only on players but paying off a substantial index of discharged employees.

Die Schwarzgelben (the black and yellows) are a sporting institution from the Nordrhein-Westfalen region, not too far from the Ruhr valley- one of the most densely populated metropolitan areas in the entire European landscape. Of course, this is a huge advantage for Borussia in terms of attracting support as the most successful club in the region with one European Cup to their name - and the only other German outfits to lift old big ears were Bayern Munich, with four titles and Hamburg's solitary success back in 1983 inspired by a certain Kevin Keegan.

However, the club's ownership model is financially sound. 50% of its shares belong to its members- loyal fans. Ticket prices are excellent value and in some cases are as cheap as watching Tranmere, while their average attendances are even higher than Bayern's, even though the Bavarian giants' fanbase stems the globe whereas Dortmund's current success is only just slowly attracting the 'glory hunter' from far beyond its own country.

Due to the excellent crowds and the astute business decisions not only off the pitch but on it courtesy of Hans-Joachim Watzke, the club's general manager, Borussia is now one of the most valuable football clubs in the world. Watzke was brought in to save the club after it made a calamitous error in floating shares on the stock market in 2005. But here's the deal, and it's something I strongly admire in the Bundesliga- their rules on club ownership make it almost impossible for an oligarch to come waltzing into town and seize the heart and soul from Die Schwartzgelben. 

In the summer, Borussia's net spend was just £308,000. Whilst they invested a sizeable fee in recruiting the fantastic technician Marco Reus from Borussia Monchengladbach, they only did so because they sold Japanese forward Shinji Kagawa to Manchester United for a similar price. They went like for like. They will spend wisely and not recklessly. Reus has fitted into the team like a heartbeat. Polish goal-getter Robert Lewandowski cost around £4m from Lech Poznan in 2010, while his national compatriots Jakub Blaszczykowski and Lukasz Piszczek were drafted in for a combined £3m- indeed the latter was a free transfer! The club's scouting team has worked consistent masterstrokes. 

When you add in homegrown products like Mario Gotze- one of the most talented magicians in European football, and the reliable Marcel Schmelzer at left back, then there is a diverse flavour and it is all engineered to perfection by the passionate yet articulate Klopp, with an emphasis on fast-paced technical attacking football, built from the back with the occasional quick counter-attack thrown in. It is in a nutshell, a manifestation of the evolution of German football since Jurgen Klinsmann and Joachim Low teamed up to help revamp the production of its youth systems.

'Kloppo' as he is known by the Sudtribune, has demonstrated that determination and faith in a project can deliver fruitful results. After leading Mainz 05 to its first ever Bundesliga promotion and achieving qualification for the Europa League during their tenure, his stock was impressive when Borussia took a punt in the summer of 2008. The club had been going through a bit of a lull in fortunes having finished 13th in the 2007-08 campaign, and Klopp's first season yielded a sixth placed finish alongside a DFB Supercup- contested between the Deutscher Meister and the DFB-Pokal winners, a la the Community Shield. His second term ended in fifth spot.

Now for Borussia Dortmund, a club that won the European Cup in 1997 when Lars Ricken famously lobbed Angelo Peruzzi in Munich's Olympiastadion, that might not be considered good enough by some. But the hierarchy remained faithful to 'Kloppo' and have been rewarded with two consecutive Bundesliga titles, the second of which was achieved alongside a DFB-Pokal- Borussia's first ever double.

However, the Achilles heel of being a well run club that lives within its means, is that squad depth and rotation will be disadvantageous compared to rivals with humongous resources and this season Klopp's side have struggled a little to juggle defending their domestic crown alongside their exciting quest to conquer Europe's mountains, and subsequently it has allowed the wealthier Bayern Munich to regain the mantle of Deutscher Meister.

But will they care if they end up picking up the UEFA Champions League at Wembley Stadium? You bet your life they won't. And if they do, and I desperately hope they do, then it ought to convince Jurgen Klopp to stick around and snub any billionaires wafting roubles in his face. This is a club that, as the motto says- encourages love and unity. He is in a place where he is revered by supporters and players alike.

To achieve the miracle, his squad still face a mountainous climb- not only are their Der Klassiker rivals from the south lurking, but La Liga's super-heavyweights as well. Achieving victory would be a dream- but after the momentum-generating scenes at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday night it is far from impossible.

Borussia Dortmund is an eminent illustration of everything that is genuine about the beautiful game. I can experience a vision of English football encouraging sound ownership models, affordable ticket prices, fan involvement and supporter representation at boardroom level, but I guess all it will ever be is a remote pipedream. As Bill Shankly once famously uttered: 'At a football club, there's a holy trinity - the players, the manager and the supporters. Directors don't come into it. They are only there to sign the cheques.'

And that iconic quote typifies how football is regarded at the Westfalenstadion, on the banks of the river Ruhr.

THE BOAT RACE INTERESTS A MINORITY- BUT WE COULD CHANGE THAT

by Joey Davies

@theonejoeyd

First of all, congratulations to Oxford for winning the 159th annual university Boat Race at a canter.

It is their 77th Race victory- a number that on the surface, constitutes a dynasty of success, consistency and efficient domination.

Or does it, when you realise they have only been competing against Cambridge since the inaugural event in 1829 and their opponents have won it 81 times and lead the series. Now, I know the race is a historic part of British culture, but does it really affect enough people for it to be considered a legit sporting event? For me it is not quite the same when you have nobody to root for in a particular sport.

When only two universities can enter teams, and both happen to be the strongest educational institutions in terms of academic reputation, then it suggests a bout of elitism. Given the unarguable fact the majority of university students in the United Kingdom do not attend either Oxford or Cambridge, why would they care about the Boat Race?

Now I'm a man of tradition but I can endorse change when it is for the better. I'd like to see a revamp of the race and here are my suggestions:

1. The first suggestion is that the Boat Clubs of Oxford and Cambridge agree to waive the Joint Understanding that governs the race, which would enable changes to its constitution.

2. I would enable any educational institution in the UK that possesses university status to be eligible to take part. There are 109 universities in the country. Of course, all of them might not enter a team, but it gives them the opportunity to compete and expand the interest in the event.

3. Chances are there would be a sizeable amount of applicants, so let's have four qualifiers the weekend before, two on the Saturday and the other two on the Sunday, with a maximum of eight participants in each. Eight boats is a perfect fit- it gives the challengers plenty of space and doesn't leave the River Thames an overcrowded cluster!

4. The top two in each qualifier go through to the final- the Boat Race itself, the following Sunday. The best university team wins the title and if it is an unfashionable name, then great! It bestows them with national media exposure and is a consummate method of presentation to potential students and financial backers.

Limiting the race just to Oxford and Cambridge means only they are affected by the result. As someone who completed a degree at a more obscure university, I would certainly root for its team in a national competition if it was allowed to partake. As would students up and down the country if their own academic establishment were involved. So let's stop being prehistoric and revolutionise!

It would be the perfect opportunity to increase popularity and numbers taking part in the sport of rowing, at a time when Great Britain's Olympic team dominated the waters of Eton Dorney last summer. It would provide us a possiblity to produce even more rowing champions far beyond the next Games in Rio.

I do not hail from either Oxford or Cambridge nor have I ever visited these parts, hence I did not even bat an eyelid at the race this year. However if we can convert it into a National Boat Race with all 109 UK universities permitted to register a squad of rowers, and metamorphose a tedious, elitist two-team Thames stroll that makes the Scottish Premier League seem unpredictable into a fiercely competitive countrywide tournament, then we can glamorise it, heighten its television audience and make it a true 'crown jewel' of British sport.