Footballers are role models. They may not be good ones. But that does not mean that they aren’t. Their influence still extends throughout society, as is the case for almost all sports stars and celebrities, and how they act and behave in the public light has massive impact.
This is why punishment — just and fair, but still harsh — is necessary. Bad behaviour by sports stars is unacceptable, sending a message to kids that it is okay to act in the manner that they do. There is a reason Luis Suarez was banned for four months after he bit an opponent.