A South American tale that has gone awry for Suarez and Tevez

The City-Liverpool match should have been about the two fiery players on a football pitch in England. Instead it is about their inability to act responsibly.

Powered by automated translation

Shortly before Luis Suarez moved to Liverpool last January, the Uruguayan revealed he had initially not believed his game was suited to the English Premier League. It was only after witnessing the success of Carlos Tevez, he said, that he felt his style perhaps could succeed.

Tevez has shone at every English club he has played for, offering high-energy performances, passionate displays and, most importantly, netting 70 goals in 132 league starts.

But the Argentine has also caused his fair share of controversy on the way.

Since the 27-year-old striker's public spat with Roberto Mancini, the City manager, Tevez has played just 92 minutes for Manchester City in the league this season and has not featured since September 18.

Suarez followed in Tevez's footsteps by arriving in England and providing intense, terrier-like performances, and while he may have scored fewer goals - nine in 29 matches - he has nonetheless quickly become fundamental to the future of Liverpool.

Disappointingly, however, Suarez has also followed Tevez into the headlines for the wrong reasons. Never a stranger to controversy - be it infighting, handballs or biting - his recent eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra is his most serious yet.

However, while Mancini cited Tevez's negative influence on teammates and the majority of City fans, to their credit, looked past the player's contribution on the pitch and agreed that Tevez must leave, Liverpool have instead done the opposite and backed their striker to the hilt.

Suarez, despite being found guilty of racism, continues to be adored by the Anfield faithful. Kenny Dalglish has defended his forward throughout, while his team have shown total support, including the now-infamous - but still ill-advised - Suarez T-shirts.

These people have all failed, sadly, to look past their club affiliation to see the bigger picture, that of racism causing a stain on the beautiful game.

City and Liverpool meet tonight at the Etihad Stadium, and while Suarez returns from the additional one-match suspension he was given for gesturing towards Fulham fans, Tevez remains absent without leave.

The match should have been about two fiery South Americans facing off on a football pitch in England.

Instead it is about their inability to act responsibly, maturely and, ultimately, professionally.

Suarez and Tevez: Suited to each other, perhaps, but not suited to promoting modern-day football.