Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says there is no good football reason why Luis Suarez has been left off the Ballon d’Or shortlist.
The Barcelona striker left Anfield for Camp Nou over the summer, having scored 31 goals in the 2013-14 season to help Liverpool to second place in the Premier League and finish the year as the joint-leading scorer in Europe, with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Suarez was only recently able to debut for Barca, however, due to a four-month ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup and Rodgers has told the British Press that if that is why the Uruguay international was ignored, it’s not right.
“I can't think of a reason why Luiz shouldn't be on the shortlist,” Rodgers said.
“Certainly, football-wise, he should be on there. I can only think that it is because of the bite that he isn't being considered – and I don't believe that's fair.
“If you are judging it on football – and that's surely what it is because it is called the Golden Ball, not the Golden Ball and Mouth.
“If anyone in the world names the five best players at the moment they would probably say Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Suarez and Bale.
“How can four be in it and one not? It means the Ballon d'Or isn't about football.
“I don't know the histories of all the players on the short-list, but I'm sure that some of them have been guilty of misdemeanours somewhere along the way.
“Luis Suarez is an incredible talent. What a player.
“I don't know whether it is a political decision, but if you are basing the Ballon d'Or on football then he should be on the short-list – and he would have a great chance of winning it.”