The Uruguayan Football Association are standing strong beside star striker Luis Suarez following the biting incident that marred his nation’s 1-0 victory against Italy.
In the 79th minute, while Italy and Uruguay were locked at nil all, both hunting for the goal that would secure progression to the Round of 16, Suarez became caught in a tussle with Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini, during which he appeared (quite clearly) to bite the Juventus defender on the shoulder.
The wash up of the incident sparked a review from FIFA’s disciplinary committee, and Suarez is now facing a potential 24-match ban if found guilty.
With sponsors entering crisis mode, sweating on whether to stand by Suarez, the ones to come to his defence were those at the Uruguayan FA.
Alejandro Balbi, the lawyer in charge of Suarez’s defence provided a statement to the media clearly indicating the position of innocence they would be taking.
“If every player starts showing the injuries he suffers and they open inquiries for them everything will be way too complicated in the future.
“We’re going to use all the arguments possible so that Luis gets out in the best possible way.
“You shouldn’t forget that we’re rivals of many and we can be for the hosts in the future.
“This does not go against what might have happened, but there’s no doubt that Suarez is a stone in the shoe for many.”
Uruguayan media outlet Tenfield also came to the defence of Suarez, insinuating that the incident only became an issue following incessant questioning from the media post-match.
In a report of the incident they even go as far as to draw defensive inspiration from the 1966 World Cup final during which the English were awarded a controversial goal that led to Geoff Hurst securing the only ever hat-trick in a World Cup final.
“In the TV replay, as viewed in the press area, it appears that Luis’s face comes in contact with Chiellini without it being clear whether he bites him as was claimed by those – especially the English – who were keen to play down Uruguay’s victory.
“In our view the TV picture is not clear as to whether or not Suarez bites the shoulder of the Italian defender. Note how Suarez stumbles after jumping for the ball and how his face hits the shoulder of the Italian player.
“British reporters, in the press conference, asked Oscar Tabarez three times about the incident, saying that: ‘Suarez bit Chiellini.’ Their intention was FIFA should expel Luis. It would be good if these Englishmen remember how they won the World Cup in 1966 with a ball which was not a goal.”
FIFA have the authority to ban Suarez for up to two years, but there is no precedent to draw upon from which a player has been banned from domestic and international football.
JimmyB
Guest
The thing is though they think that blaming the English is the way to go because it normally works for everyone else.
Minz
Guest
The whole "front" thing extends to the explanation that he stumbled after jumping for the ball - it'd be very odd to jump for a ball which was 20 yards away and not coming in his direction, and opening your mouth wide isn't a normal part of, ahem, stumbling. Just bizarre.
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
Bear in mind the Uruguayan team also claimed, before the England game, that evil English agents had put ants in their hotel rooms to frighten them before the game (I'm not making this up). I make no comment on the people of Uruguay themselves, but their sporting establishment makes North Korean news reports look objective and sensible.
damo
Guest
Just watched a compilation of Suarez bites on youtube. Quite bizarre really, because I thought they might be a bit hard to see what he had done & apart from maybe some obvious marks, it may have been open to conjecture, but no, there it is, quite clearly biting people. I even thought beforehand that they would be the type of incident where his head was in close contact with bitten part & he just latched on, but again, no, he has really had to go out of his way to bite Bakkal, has to make quite an effort to bite Ivanovic & the last effort even took some doing given the nature of the challenge. Very strange all round & it does seem hard to see a way to say it didn't happen. I could see how the Urugyuan officials might say it did kind of happen but it wasn't as bad as everyone thinks, but to say it never occurred is definitely having a whole lot of front !
Minz
Guest
Hard to see how they could claim that wasn't a bite. It's gunna take a whole lot of front!