World football’s governing body FIFA has acted swiftly to ban rogue Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez for nine international matches and from any football-related activity for four months.
The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) willappeal against a four-month global ban imposed against star striker Luis Suarez for biting an Italian opponent at the World Cup.
AUF president Wilmar Valdez called the FIFA punishment against Suarez, also comprising a nine-match international ban, “totally exaggerated”.
He said the appeal would be lodged on Thursday.
“We feel the decision is totally over the top because for us there was no incontrovertible proof to warrant such a tough punishment,” Valdez told reporters in Rio.
“Uruguay does not seek privileges or exceptions. What Uruguay does ask is that the law be applied equally to all and FIFA should ensure that is the case.
“And we have seen more or similarly aggressive incidents than that involving Luis Suarez and yet (in those cases FIFA’s) disciplinary commission did not act as it is now doing,” he complained.
But he added he did not think Suarez was being victimised.
Uruguayan skipper Diego Lugano meanwhile posted a message to social media saying the squad were aghast at the punishment but felt powerless to do anything.
“Indignant. Powerless. I think this is what we all feel,” said Lugano, but “those who are in charge are in charge.
“A hug to Luis, who as always will bounce back.
“We will carry on with humility, solidarity, commitment, recognising our mistakes and with our heads always held high,” said Lugano, who was sat on the bench for the match as he was injured.
Suarez must leave the team’s World Cup hotel, FIFA said, adding that the star would not
be allowed into a stadium during the suspension.
Suarez’s club Liverpool said it would make no immediate decision on the player. But the head of England’s players’ union labelled the FIFA ban as a “massive backward step” for Suarez.
Liverpool’s chief executive, Ian Ayre, said “Liverpool Football Club will wait until we have seen and had time to review the FIFA Disciplinary Committee report before making any further comment.”
FIFA banned Suarez after his bite on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in Tuesday’s final group match, the suspension ending the controversial forward’s involvement at the World Cup.
It is the third time the 27-year-old South American star had been banned for biting an opponent after a previous case while at Ajax in 2010 and last year playing for Liverpool when he bit the arm of Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
“We felt things had got back on track (following his ban with Liverpool), it was up there for everybody to see, but of course this is a massive backward step on the world stage,” Gordon Taylor, the chief executive of England’s Professional Footballers’ Association, told Sky Sports.
Taylor added FIFA ought to have made “counselling and treatment” a condition of Suarez’s ban.
“I feel FIFA should have led the way with regard to trying to make sure that this behaviour is just eradicated and insist on there being some serious counselling and treatment for Luis Suarez because there’s no doubt he’s one of the finest players in the world,” Taylor said.
“Of course it’s not good when you’ve got somebody of such talent who spoils that talent by such behaviour and that’s why I believe it needs looking at in a serious way and that treatment course needs to be part of any sanction I would suggest.” However, Taylor highlighted how the PFA had already helped players with mental health and anger management problems.
“I would suggest we’ve been successful in about two out of three cases. So the odds would be in favour if that was addressed seriously, but of course Luis needs to accept that and be prepared to undertake that.” Meanwhile Liverpool great John Barnes said he was not shocked by the severity of Suarez’s ban “It is a punishment I expected,” Barnes told the BBC. “From FIFA’s perspective, nine games is a long time in international football.
“Will he (Suarez) do it again? We don’t know but all FIFA can do is enforce the rules of the articles they specify.” Before the start of last season, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, who enlisted renowned sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters to help at Anfield, made huge efforts to persuade Suarez to stay with the Merseysiders amid talk of a proposed move to Premier League rivals Arsenal or to a Spanish side.
Rodgers was rewarded with a stunning season from Suarez, whose 31 goals in 33 matches made him the Premier League’s top scorer and so nearly saw Liverpool crowned champions of England for the first time in 24 years.
But Barnes said it was uncertain, after this latest incident and amid reports of renewed interest from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, the club would now be as keen to keep Suarez.
“Will Liverpool say they want to sell him or wait until the ban is over, only they can answer that question.” Depending on the outcome of Uruguay’s appeal, Suarez will miss the first nine games of the Premier League season starting in August, a sequence that includes a clash with champions Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Uruguayan Sports Minister Liliam Kechichian blasted the punishment for Suarez as “disproportionate.” She vowed to discuss the matter with Uruguayan President Jose Mujica, who had already backed the player.
“I have seen many World Cups and many incidents involving hard contact (between players),” said Kechichian.
But “this is the greatest injustice to have resulted” from such a clash said Kechichian.
“This is something which affects the whole of Uruguayan society.” Mujica had Wednesday indicated Suarez had his full support.
“I did not see him bite anybody,” said Mujica, adding that “I was taught that in football what happens is down to the referee,” who did not appear to have seen the incident and therefore did not sanction Suarez.
Uruguayan press and social media users united to express solidarity with Suarez and blast his punishment as overly severe as the team now look to get past Colombia on Saturday without him.
Web users used the hashtag #TodosSomosSuarez (we are all Suarez) to express indignation and blame everybody save for Suarez.
“Indignant at the FIFA resolution. Go Uruguay. We are all Suarez!!”, said Monica Xavier, senator and president of the leftist Frente Amplio grouping while opposition senator Alfredo Solari blamed the English.
“English leaders make me sick — sore losers. They forgot all about fair play.” Pablo Mieres, a candidate for the Independent Party, said the FIFA ban “shows that FIFA always has been biased. Now more than ever we must win!” Nacional club, where Suarez started his playing career, offered him “total support” while journalist Federico Paz tweeted “9 matches … who did Luis kill?”
source: theaustralian.com.au
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