Luis Suarez: biting and what it says about our expectations in sport

Like all high-achievers he was driven by a desire to be the best – or at least the best he could be. All top tier sport has its rough moments; in the heat of the moment competitors may behave in ways they would not consider outside the field of play.

Yet Beckham has emerged as a man – albeit still a celebrity – who seems to have maintained his respect for himself, with a relatively sane sense of his place in the wider world, as an individual, a father and a husband.

As a result, he garners respect even beyond the world of sports, carrying himself with a level of dignity without being too serious about himself.

Along with other football stars like Pele and cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, he reminds us that integrity is a choice; it's not something one is born with, like talent.

If football's officials respond in the right way, yesterday's World Cup incident may, in the end, be the making of Luis Suarez. If you love sport, you'll surely hope so. It might force him to take a much longer view of his life and his career future.

He won't always have his prodigious footballing talent to use as a ticket to the table of the elites. His crowd-drawing skills won't forever provide a cover for bad behaviour.

When his playing days are over, he'll need to call upon a deep well of personal character as he deals with the inevitable drop in adulation, and the need to find a new direction.

He'll need to kick start this process now, by surrounding himself with people who have permission to say 'no' to him.

He may need to explore the reasons for his behaviour and to receive guidance in changing his thought processes and reactions.

It might also help his personal rejuvenation – and his self-esteem – if he spent some serious time helping children and younger people to develop self-respect and character.

Talking openly about whatever struggles or psychological pressures have led to his behaviour problems would perhaps help him find peace. It would also give others permission to face their own torments.

There will be millions of football fans worldwide who wish Luis Suarez well – as long as 'well' means well in the truest sense of that word.