Only one VOTE for Suarez

Liverpool striker Suarez ruined his chances of winning the award when he BIT Chelsea 

defender Branislav Ivanovic last month.


The Uruguayan was subsequently banned for 10 MATCHES and received just a solitary

vote from around 400 football writers -fewer than Southampton’s Rickie Lambert.Tottenham 

ace Bale’s victory means he has won both the PFA and FWA awards this season.

The Welsh wizard earned 53 per cent of the vote, with second-placed Robin van Persie of 

Manchester United on 43 per cent. Chelsea’s Spanish sizzler Juan Mata came third
.

Bale said: “It is a huge honour to receive the Footballer of the Year award from the Football 

Writers’ Association.

“It means a lot to win this award when you consider the number of players that have been 

outstanding for their clubs in the Barclays Premier League this season.

“I have been very fortunate to be playing in such a fantastic team and I owe a lot to my 

team-mates and, obviously, the manager who has shown such faith in me.

“This award has been won in the past by some of the greatest names in football and I 

consider it a privilege that the FWA has selected me to be named alongside them.

Chairman of the FWA Andy Dunn said: “In a contest for votes that took so many late twists 

and turns, Gareth’s penchant for the spectacular captured the imagination.

“He is a player who is rising inexorably towards the rarefied levels of world stars such as 

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Twice the PFA Player of the Year and now, two months before his 24th birthday, the FWA 

Footballer of the Year.

“Let’s all hope he lights up the Barclays Premier League for many seasons to come.”