What Can Luis Suarez Do Regarding an Appeal of His Eight Match Ban?

For those of you that have not heard, Luis Suarez has been banned eight matches by the FA for his racial abuse of Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra.

Stuart Miller, a sports law expert from the firm Miller Rosenfalck, told Goal.com the following regarding a potential Suarez appeal.

“Suarez has 14 days from the time the full written judgement is published to appeal the findings against him. It’s Suarez, rather than Liverpool, who has been fined and banned so it’s his right as to where to proceed from here.

“If he chooses to appeal, he will try to say that it is not a just ban. It is highly unlikely that the decision made by the Independent Regulatory Commission (IRC) will be completely overturned, given Suarez has admitted to using the word.

“What he will argue, from my understanding, is that there was a cultural misunderstanding. He can argue mitigating circumstances in attempt to get the ban reduced on appeal.

“I have not seen the full submissions, but we saw with Wayne Rooney’s appeal to Uefa that appeals can have some success.

“I would suggest that Suarez would have to show an element of contrition and remorse to have any success on appeal. So far, Liverpool have been very defensive and it won’t do them any favours.”

There’s really no doubt that Suarez will appeal the ban, which means that he can continue playing for the Reds in the meantime.

That being said, what are Liverpool going to do when they have to play a significant amount of games without their talisman?

First, they must buy another striker in January. After all, can King Kenny really trust Andy Carroll? Surely not.

Second, Liverpool must watch what they say about the English FA.

“Liverpool are skating on very thin ice for their statement released on Tuesday night, in which there is suggestion of a witch hunt and an agenda against the club,” added Miller.

“For Liverpool to question the neutrality of the IRC could get them into trouble for bringing the game into disrepute. It’s jaw-dropping to suggest there is an agenda at work.

“They have sailed into very stormy waters and I would expect the FA to launch proceedings against Liverpool.”

The last thing Liverpool need is the English FA hovering over them.

Can you really attract world-class talent when your club’s management is under investigation and  heavy scrutiny? I don’t think so.

Liverpool’s best option is to appeal quietly and hope that the FA trims the length of the ban.

That being said, Suarez fully deserves the eight match ban. There is no place for racism.

Assuming that Liverpool appeal the decision, will the English FA reduce Suarez’s ban?