Make sure none of you watch Major League Baseball. It's almost expected there, (spitting in general, not at another player).
There it is! There is no excuse but in some countries spitting is not as despised as it is here. Larissa Savchenko ( 1990s Russian doubles player) regularly spat on the tennis court. Revolting. Kyrgios does it constantly too. Vile.
That's down to the long standing tradition in baseball of chewing tobacco. You really have to spit it out from time to time. Why you would choose to chew tobacco is another question. I believe it led to quite a big mouth cancer problem.
In this country it was 'popular' with miners (couldn't spark up 'down pit') and in oil/gas production/refining. ISTR the EU did effectively ban it - except in Sweden for 'cultural reasons'. The list of the Tories who tried to introduce the sale and use of, the related, 'Snus' in the UK is quite 'enlightening'.
Sounds like the leader of "The Good Ole Boys" in the "Blues Brothers " or various"critters" in westerns.
Gobbling is part of football because of the amount of flegm we produce and carrying a pack of hankies is not viable. It's the way you "get rid" that is the issue. For me I filled up in the sinuses so now and then to breath I had to do the old "finger pressed on one nostril and blow it out" HOWEVER you can do it carefully and semi descreetly, whilst some idiots like to see how far they can gob it. Certain countries show contempt by spitting, and with louza its a Question of whether he spat to the ground or spat directly at the other player. OK discusting either way but I hope they're not trying to get him banned just because of an "aggressive spit on the ground" because Im guessing (hoping) that's the case... Is there any TV on it.?
So let me get this straight. If banned he doesn’t have to play for 6 games. Still gets full pay. Goes to play for his country. Maybe a small, insignificant fine from the club that equates to about 10 minutes wages at worst. how is that punishment at all?
Louza has until tomorrow to respond to FA change, so presumably we should find out soon whether he is contesting the charge
I recall Esther Rantzen led a prolonged That’s Life campaign against Skol Bandits chewing tobacco back in the ‘80s. I think Esther was more worried about the mouth cancer risks rather than any spitting aspects of the habit tbh. She also highlighted that the bandits were being marketed to children.
As I lived near the city centre I was often asked to visit the tobacconist in Liverpool* to pick up packets of this stuff (it was kept in a fridge - I see someone's still selling it so there must be a market) for the guys working at Port Sunlight (my final year project in '92 was a collaboration with Unilever). FWIW - it did taste quite nice but the gobbing I couldn't deal with (the chewers used to carry about empty pop bottle to act as a 'hygienic' spittoon). *I used to buy their light vanilla flavoured pipe-tobacco. It make a nice rolly and as it was classed as pipe tobacco it had lower tax than normal rolling baccy and was much cheaper.
https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/23048266.bilic-believes-louza-says-didnt-spit/ Some of Bilic's comments taken from the Watford Observer for those that can't be arsed to read the whole article. 'A combination of the player's assertions he didn't spit, and what he has viewed on tape, have convinced him there is no case to answer. I spoke to the player and I trust my player. I asked him if he did it, and he said no he didn’t. I believe him," “I’ve watched the footage maybe 10 or 15 times, trying to see something and I didn’t see anything concrete that you can be sure what happened. Why should he be banned if he didn’t do it?'' Sounds to me that there is no evidence.
Unless there is video evidence it’s a case of your word against ours. I think this will be case closed due to insufficient evidence.
Maybe - but as awful as the Footballing Authorities are in this country, they won't have charged him just because there was an accusation. They will have some sort of evidence that we will have to explain.
Wonder what they charged him based on then? The FA have to present their case so will be interesting. Maybe Swansea have their own video footage (from their analyst)?
Or there is evidence, but Bilic knows he won't survive the 6 losses that will inevitably follow a suspension, and is willing to go all out for a Hail Mary defence.
So will this protential ban now be erased due to injury or will it be enforced as soon as Louza is available for selection again?
