Gnawing away at Liverpool FC's reputation

With the FA charging him today with violent conduct (and saying that a three-match ban is insufficient), it is a good time to reflect on the incredible pictures of Luis Suarez trying to take a bite out of Branislav Ivanovic (and staying on the pitch to score with virtually the last kick of the game 30 seconds after an already ludicrous six minutes of injury time had elapsed) were extraordinary but not altogether surprising.  The Professional Footballers' Association has offered to send him on an anger management course, but his psychological problems seem deeper than that.  What was hilarious (aside from some excellent headlines such as "Eats... Shoots... Leaves?" in The Guardian) were some - and, it has to be emphasised, some - Liverpool fans trying to defend Suarez as the victim of another media conspiracy.   Those interviewed who tried to support him had such a bunker mentality that rationality (and it seems oxygen) struggled to make any headway.  They could not understand the reputational damage this one player has inflicted on their club, despite Suarez dishonouring the memory of Anne Williams (the Hillsborough campaigner who died a few days ago) of whom in tribute he and his colleagues were wearing black armbands.  Of course, without Suarez's goals and assists for goals, Liverpool would be struggling to avoid relegation, which may have entered calculations, but the man is absolutely toxic for the image.  He was banned for seven games in The Netherlands (a punishment he didn't complete after being transferred to Liverpool) after biting a player there, he was banned for eight matches after racially abusing Patrice Evra (and where Liverpool began sinking into the mire after accusing the victim of lying, flying in the face of Suarez's admission of what he had said) and when Evra was prepared to shake his hand to put the past behind, Suarez dragged his hand out of the way (completely opposite to what he did in the 2010 World Cup and on Sunday), plus he has admitted to diving.  All this and yet there are some in Liverpool red prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.  Thankfully, there are plenty of Koppites who are absolutely disgusted at his actions, but not the overwhelming majority it should be.